- The Washington Times - Friday, February 28, 2014

A quick-thinking, fast-acting taco cook working a local restaurant in California is being hailed as a hero for chasing down a would-be kidnapper and rescuing a 4-year-old boy from his grasp.

Jesus Delgado was working at the grill of a T2 Tacos restaurant and heard a woman calling for help, NBC Los Angeles reported. He rushed from the restaurant and, after hearing the woman’s quick explanation, chased down the man who snatched the boy.

The woman was the boy’s nanny and said the man had simply snatched him from her side, NBC Los Angeles reported.

Mr. Delgado said, of his confrontation with the would-be kidnapper, in the local news outlet: “He told me, ’It’s not your problem, man. It’s not your problem. Leave me alone with the kid.’ I said, ’This is my problem. This is my problem, because why you take this boy?’ “

Mr. Delgado said he stayed with the attacker and held him for police.

The boy’s father later met with Mr. Delgado and gave him a check, NBC Los Angeles reported. Now Mr. Delgado says he’s so inundated with requests from people to have their pictures taken with him, “I can’t work,” he said, to the local outlet.

Meanwhile, well-wishers have raised about $850 for Mr. Delgado, who reportedly has a sick daughter around the same age as the boy he rescued, NBC Los Angeles reported.

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.

Click to Read More and View Comments

Click to Hide