'Suspicious Man' At Tampa Palms Park Charged With Attempted Kidnapping

By Matt Wiley

The ‘suspicious man’ reported at Hampton Park in Tampa Palms has been arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping.

TPD reports that, at around 1:30 p.m. on August 4, a woman was at Hampton Park (16311 Tampa Palms Blvd. West) with her two children. The woman, an Enclave resident, told police that while she was at the park, a suspicious man – later identified as James Wood, 22, of the Manchester community in Tampa Palms – walked up behind her and grabbed her shoulder. When she was grabbed, the victim screamed, which caught the attention of the park’s security guard. 

The guard witnessed the suspect chasing the victim and chased the suspect into a heavily wooded, swampy area. The guard lost the suspect, but instructed someone to call 9-1-1. TPD responded with officers, a K-9 unit and a search helicopter to canvas the area. TPD located and made contact with the suspect just before 1 a.m. on August 5. 

After further investigation, TPD reports that Wood attempted to grab the victim’s infant from her arms, but she was able to get away.

Wood has been charged with felony attempted kidnapping and remains in the Hillsborough County jail without bond.