Masked maniac caught on video trying to abduct Jewish boy is arrested

The individual wearing a mask, captured on video attempting to abduct a 6-year-old Hasidic boy from his father’s arms in Brooklyn, was apprehended by authorities for the terrifying incident that took place in broad daylight. 

Stephan Stowe, 28, a member of a gang with 33 prior arrests, was taken into custody early Sunday and charged with attempted kidnapping after he tried to snatch the young boy from his father in Crown Heights, as reported by authorities and sources. 

The boy’s father was walking with his two sons on Kingston Avenue near Empire Boulevard when the suspect approached the family and tried to take the boy around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, as seen in surveillance footage. 

The tall alleged kidnapper lifted the child into the air before the father quickly retrieved him from the man’s grasp.

The father acted swiftly by punching the would-be abductor in the stomach.

A representative for Shomrim, a volunteer neighborhood patrol serving NYC’s Jewish community, mentioned that no words were exchanged between the attacker and the victims during the incident.

The motive behind the man targeting the child remains unclear.

Stowe, who also faces charges of acting in a manner injurious to a child and harassment, was remanded without bail during his arraignment on Monday evening, according to city Department of Correction records. 

Sources indicated that he is a member of the G-Stone Crips gang.

Stowe’s extensive criminal record includes two recent arrests in Brooklyn, one of which occurred in August for assaulting his girlfriend during a heated argument, according to a criminal complaint. 

The couple had a disagreement over Stowe’s cell phone, leading him to become verbally and physically aggressive, as stated in the court document. 

After the woman asked him to leave, he refused, prompting her to throw his belongings outside, the complaint revealed. 

Subsequently, Stowe kicked in the victim’s door, choked her on top of her dresser, and attempted to lock her in the room, resulting in damage to a TV on the dresser during the altercation, according to the court document.

He was charged with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, as well as various misdemeanors and violations for criminal mischief, criminal trespass, and harassment. 

He was released on his own recognizance following his arraignment, as per records. 

In addition, Stowe was arrested in April of 2023 for possession of two pistols, a rifle, multiple rounds of ammunition, drugs, a credit card skimmer, and a police radio in his apartment, according to a criminal complaint. 

He was granted bail set at $20,000 or $200,000 bond in that particular case.

Details regarding how or when he posted bail were not immediately available.

Sources also mentioned that he was previously arrested for criminal possession of a weapon in 2019.

According to sources, twenty-five of his prior arrests are sealed.