Jamaica Man Indicted for December Kidnapping Attempt

By David Brand

A 40-year-old Jamaica resident was indicted Monday on kidnapping for allegedly forcing an 11-year-old girl into his car in Ridgewood. A neighbor who heard the girl screaming for help stopped the kidnapping on Dec. 15, 2018.

Relyn Estrada was arraigned before Justice Richard L. Buchter in Queens Supreme Court on a two-count indictment. He is charged with second-degree kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child.

“The defendant is accused of physically forcing this girl into his vehicle — despite the youngster fighting her hardest to get away from the stranger who approached her on the street,” said Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown. “If not for a brave Good Samaritan who stepped in to help, the fate of the girl could have been horribly different.”

Estrada allegedly drove up to the girl as she walked along Centre Street in Ridgewood at around 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 15. Estrada motioned for her to come to him and when she ignored him, he stopped the vehicle, got out and ordered her into the car, prosecutors said.

The victim said “no thank you” and ran in the opposite direction, prosecutors said. But Estrada allegedly chased her, grabbed her arm and backpack and dragged her into the front seat of his car. The girl kicked her legs and screamed for help while trying to escape.

Neighbor Alexander Salas heard her screams and saw the car inside the car, prosecutors said. He ran outside, asked the girl if she knew Estrada and call the police, who arrested Estrada.

Buchter held Estrada without bail and ordered him to return to court on March 11.

If convicted, Estrada faces up to 25 years in prison.