Elkton Man Arrested In Plot To Kidnap 10-Year-Old Boy For Ransom

ELKTON, Md. (WJZ)-- Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) bust a Cecil County man after they say he tried to hire someone to abduct a 10-year-old boy. It's a plot that seems like it's straight from Hollywood.

Meghan McCorkell has details on the violent scheme.

Police say that man wanted to kidnap the child and hold him for ransom. If the parents didn't pay, he threatened to kill the child.

Police say Andres Flores, 36, plotted an elaborate kidnapping scheme.

According to investigators, Flores, who lives in Elkton, was looking for someone to kidnap a 10-year-old boy from a family he knew.

"Showing photos of the child, taking individuals by the residences of the mother and the father, and also even came up with a game plan of how to grab the child," Lt. Michael Holmes of the Cecil County Sheriff's Office said.

He planned to hold the boy for $300,000 ransom. If the family didn't pay:

"The suspect made a statement that they would have to get rid of the child," Holmes said.

But someone tipped off the FBI.

Police staged a sting operation in a strip mall parking lot, where they say Flores had arranged to meet another potential kidnapper. He never knew investigators were listening the whole time.

When they took him into custody, police say Flores confessed.

Neighbors at Flores' Midland Drive address saw undercover police serving a search warrant at the house two days ago.

"That is very, very shocking because I have three younger sisters," Ratisha Sweat, a neighbor, said. "So, for something like that to happen literally across the street, that's very, very scary."

Flores now faces five charges including conspiracy to kidnap a child. He's being held on $750,000 bond.

Police tell WJZ Flores planned to kidnap the child when he was with his mother. If she resisted, he told potential kidnappers to assault her.

Investigators are not releasing details about the targeted family, but say they do live in Cecil County.