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Man sentenced to 6 years in prison after attempting to kidnap child at Lakewood's Madison Park

Jeremy McCusker tried to kidnap a boy during soccer practice at Madison Park in October of 2021.

CLEVELAND — A 45-year-old man was sentenced to six years in prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to the attempted kidnapping of a child at Lakewood's Madison Park last October.

Jeremy McCusker was initially charged with kidnapping, attempted kidnapping aggravated menacing, resisting arrest, and carrying concealed weapons. As part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, the aggravated menacing charge was dropped. According to Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Timothy McCormick, McCusker will be subject to at least two years of probation upon his release from prison. 

On October 20, 2021, Lakewood police were called to Madison Park for reports of a male, acting suspiciously, and possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

Around this time, several calls came in from people at the park, one of which reported that the man had left the premises, while another later said he had returned. That's when police say the man approached a group of kids at soccer practice, picked up one of the juveniles, and attempted to run off with him. 

RELATED: Police identify man arrested in Lakewood after allegedly picking up playing child, attempting to run off with him

Lakewood police say thanks to the quick actions of the coach and a Madison Park on-duty security guard, the boy got away to safety. The pair pinned McCusker to the ground, until police arrived and took him into custody.

Police arrested McCusker, who was immediately taken to a local hospital for medical evaluation.

3News' Hope Sloop and Sara Shookman contributed to this report.

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