TULSA, Okla. — A routine shopping trip at a Walmart near 68th Street and Memorial Drive quickly turned frightening for a mother after a man allegedly took her 1-year-old child directly from her shopping cart.
Tulsa Police said officers responded to the Walmart at around 5:08 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, following a report of a possible kidnapping.
According to police, the mother was shopping with her two children when a man approached her and briefly spoke with her about the children. The interaction reportedly took a disturbing turn when the man allegedly reached into her shopping cart and took her 1-year-old.
Police identified the suspect as 50-year-old Marshall Dixon, who was later arrested and booked into the Tulsa County Jail on suspicion of kidnapping.
Man Allegedly Places Baby in His Own Cart
According to Tulsa Police, the suspect allegedly took the child from the mother’s shopping cart and placed the 1-year-old into his own shopping cart.
“A woman said she was shopping at the store when a man came up to her, briefly talked about her two kids, and then took her 1-year-old child out of her shopping cart,” police said.
“The man put the child in his own shopping cart and started walking away.”
The mother’s immediate reaction was critical. Police said she confronted the man and was able to take her child back before the situation escalated further.
The incident could have ended very differently if the mother had not noticed what was happening or been able to intervene.
Mother Locks Herself and Children in Bathroom
After getting her child back, the woman took another precaution. Police said she locked herself and her children inside a Walmart bathroom and called authorities for help.
Meanwhile, Walmart staff also became involved. According to police, store employees removed the suspect from the premises and contacted authorities.
The actions of the mother and Walmart employees helped keep the situation from continuing while police were being called. Officers were dispatched to investigate the reported abduction and locate the suspect.
Suspect Found Sitting at Nearby Bus Stop
When officers arrived, Dixon was no longer inside the Walmart. Police said they located him sitting at a nearby bus stop.
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Investigators then questioned him about the reported abduction. According to Tulsa Police, Dixon allegedly acknowledged what had happened when officers asked him about the incident.
“Yeah, I did that,” Dixon allegedly told officers, according to police.
Dixon was subsequently arrested and booked into the Tulsa County Jail on suspicion of kidnapping. The allegations against him are now part of a criminal case, and an arrest does not by itself establish guilt.
Police Investigation Continues
Authorities have not publicly identified the mother involved in the incident. The available police information also does not indicate that the child was physically harmed during the reported incident.
The case highlights how quickly an ordinary shopping trip can turn into an emergency, particularly when a young child is involved.
Police said the suspect allegedly approached the mother, spoke about her children and then took the 1-year-old from the shopping cart before attempting to walk away.
The mother was able to confront the suspect and recover her child, while Walmart employees helped by removing the man from the store and contacting law enforcement.
Dixon’s arrest followed shortly afterward when officers located him at the nearby bus stop.
What would you do if someone tried to take your child from your shopping cart? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay connected for more local crime and public safety updates.
