Bystanders stop man from stealing a car with family still inside, police say

SALT LAKE COUNTY – A man tried to forcibly steal a car with the family still inside Friday evening.

According to arresting documents, 38-year-old Telesforo Tejeda was detained by several bystanders after attempting to steal a car in a parking lot around 7 p.m.

Witnesses saw Tejeda acting erratic and kicking a man’s dog before he forced himself into the running car with two children and a mother inside.

Tejeda put the car in reverse, but bystanders intervened and got Tejeda out of the vehicle and restrained him as they waited for police.

Police attempted to place him into custody, but he kept resisting, forcing officers to use a Taser on him.

Medics believe Tejeda was under the influence of an unknown substance.

Tejeda was booked in the Salt Lake County Jail for:

• robbery,
• kidnapping,
• child kidnapping (x2),
• interference with an arresting officer,
• intoxication,
• and cruelty to animals intentionally and knowingly.

The documents did not say where this incident happened.