ORLANDO, Fla. — A 23-year-old man is facing charges after police say he tried to kidnap a 9-year-old girl from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure.
- Illinois man accused of trying to kidnap 9-year-old girl
- Police say Jason Mikel grabbed girl near Harry Potter attraction
- Deputies: Girl broke free from Mikel and ran to her mother
Jason Mikel, of Illinois, approached the girl in the locker room area of Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and grabbed her shoulder, according to an Orlando Police arrest affidavit.
Mikel then told the girl to "go outside" because her mother was outside. The girl got scared and ran away from Mikel, the affidavit said.
A witness told police she saw Mikel touch the girl and tell her "mommy is over here." The witness added that the girl looked scared before she broke free from the man and ran to her mom.
Mikel then ran from the attraction, according to police. The witness who saw the incident told Universal employees, who followed Mikel until he was detained outside the Hogwarts Express.
Police say Mikel had a scraped knee and bloody lip when they encountered him. Mikel told police he had fallen when he thought someone was trying to grab him.
Mikel was charged with kidnapping a child under the age of 13, battery and possession of cannabis. He was also issued a trespass warning for all Universal properties indefinitely.
