Bystanders stop man attempting to steal car with mom and 2 kids inside, police say

SALT LAKE CITY — A man attempting to carjack a vehicle while a mom and two children were inside was stopped Friday by bystanders, police said.

Telesforo Tejeda, 38, had been seen acting erratically in a parking lot prior to the incident, according to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, and was seen kicking a dog being walked by its owner.

Tejeda entered the car, which was running with a mother and two children under the age of 14 inside, and had put the vehicle in reverse before bystanders intervened, forced him from the car and restrained him until police arrived to place him under arrest, a police booking affidavit said.

Police said the man actively resisted getting into the police car while they made several attempts to secure him, including with the use of a Taser.

The booking affidavit said a medical episode was ruled out at the scene, and that they believe the man was "significantly impaired" by an unknown substance. Police did not identify where the incident took place.

Tejeda was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of robbery and kidnapping, both second-degree felonies; two counts of child kidnapping, a first-degree felony; interference with arresting officer and cruelty to animals, both class B misdemeanors; and intoxication, a class C misdemeanor.

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