ARDMORE, Okla. (KTEN) — Ardmore police say a man allegedly tried to abduct a child Thursday afternoon at the Chick-fil-A at 2500 12th Avenue NW.

Investigators said it was not Rickie Charles Marshall's first attempt that day. He is now behind bars.

Marshall, 43, was arrested after allegedly twice trying to kidnap children. 

Police responded to a call from the 600 block of East Main Street after a man reportedly tried luring a young girl away.

"Whenever we arrived, we were able to interview the grandmother and start reviewing some videotape, employees were able to help identify who the suspect was, which turned out to be Ricky Marshall,"  Capt. Claude Henry said.

Marshall fled the scene before officers arrived, but then...

"We got another call on the 2500 block of 12th Avenue Northwest with a suspect trying to do the same thing, this time with a juvenile boy," Henry said. "The parents of the boy confronted Marshall; he verbally told the parents that he was a U.S. Marshal."

Ardmore police said a man tried to kidnap a young boy from this Chick-fil-A restaurant on July 27, 2023.
Ardmore police said a man tried to kidnap a young boy from this Chick-fil-A restaurant on July 27, 2023. (KTEN)

 

Parents identified Marshall's car, leading to a police traffic stop and arrest on charges of child stealing and false impersonation of a law enforcement officer. Marshall was booked into the Carter County Jail.

"If you're out in public, make sure you're keeping an eye on your child," Henry urged. "The big thing is to contact us so we can respond, because these were two failed attempts on his end of trying to possibly kidnap a small child."

Marshall now awaits a hearing for his plea and possible bond.