Good Samaritans and Joplin Police help stop an attempted child abduction during Joplin's Third Thursday event downtown.

 The call to Emergency Dispatch came in just after 9:00 last night. Initial reports say an adult male grabbed a 4-year-old girl outside of a bounce house near 3rd and Main. As the suspect tried to carry the child away, the mother began chasing after the suspect. Bystanders joined in the chase; they were able to confront, stop, and surround the man until authorities arrived. The child was rescued and reunited with the mother.

 28-year-old Johnny Arehart, currently homeless, is being held in the Joplin City Jail, with suggested charges of child kidnapping. The child appeared to be unharmed.

 Detectives with the Joplin Police Department are asking for people at the event who witnessed anything related to this incident, to contact Detective Sergeant Luke Stahl at 417-623-3131 extension 1885.