Man charged after trying to run off with child in Woodstock

WOODSTOCK, Ill. (WLS) -- Woodstock police said a 39-year-old man is facing multiple charges for allegedly pulling a child off his bicycle and attempting to kidnap him Friday.

"It was something that I've never seen before. Something that most people won't ever witness," said Sean Norton, Good Samaritan.

Norton and fellow house painter Jonny Hunt said they had just finished a job and were driving by Olson Play Park around 12:30 p.m. when a group of kids flagged them down.

Police said they were called to that intersection of Clay and Bagley Streets for a fight. After breaking up the fight, police said they discovered Kevin Sorensen had pulled a boy off of his bike near the park, picked him up and began to run off with him.

"He was, like, bear-hugging the kid," Norton said.

"The older brother was crying and screaming. There was another older sister. They're scared. I mean, this old man's trying to take their four-year-old little brother," Hunt said.

They said Sorensen let the boy go as they approached, and as they called the police they warned him not to leave the park. By then a neighbor had also arrived to help.

"He came at me. He swung at me, hit me in the face," Norton said.

"Sean got on top of him. Me and the neighbor grabbed his shoulders and arms and held him down until the cops arrived," said Hunt.

Police said Sorenson is a convicted sex offender who was no longer required to register. He has been charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery, unlawful restraint and aggravated criminal sexual abuse, all felonies. He is being held at McHenry County Jail until a bond hearing.

The painters, though, don't want to be called heroes.

"I have children of my own, so I do everything that I hope every citizen would do," said Norton.

Police said the boy was not harmed.