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Public tip leads Orange County deputies to attempted kidnapping suspect

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A tip from a concerned citizen helped Orange County deputies put an attempted kidnapping suspect behind bars.

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The sheriff’s office shared video of the incident Monday, hoping someone in the Central Florida community might recognize the suspect.

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Their plan worked, and deputies were able to arrest 37-year-old Vihn Nguyen Tuesday after someone called to identify him.

The video released by the sheriff’s office shows the victim walking alone near the intersection of Semoran Blvd. and Dahlia Drive Monday morning as the suspect approaches from the opposite direction.

The suspect can be seen grabbing the victim by the head before the two walk out of the frame together. Deputies say the child was able to escape.

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The next video clip shows the suspect driving away from the area in what the sheriff’s office says was a white Toyota RAV4.

There was crime scene tape up at Vinh Nguyen’s Azalea Park home Tuesday, which had a white RAV4 in the driveway.

The house sits just blocks away from where deputies say the attempted kidnapping occurred.

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Sheriff’s office investigators haven’t said exactly what Nguyen did to the child.

He’s being charged with false imprisonment, luring or enticing of a child and battery. Detectives are investigating whether he may have other victims.

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Jeff Deal

Jeff Deal, WFTV.com

I joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in 2006.

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