Kenner police arrest man who stole multiple cars, including one with a child inside
By Shay O’Connor, Metia Carroll
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METAIRIE, La. (WDSU) — Kenner police have arrested a man after he allegedly stole a car with a child inside.
Mackenzie Switzer, 36, was arrested for illegal possession of stolen things, carjacking, simple kidnapping and associated traffic violations.
According to Kenner police, Switzer arrived at a local business in the 200 block of Veterans Boulevard in a Chevy Malibu, reported stolen out of New Orleans.
The car was abandoned and Switzer stole a Nissan Rogue that had been left running in the same parking lot. A 10-year-old boy was in the car at the time.
Switzer fled eastbound on Veterans Boulevard with the child still inside.
While the car was moving, the boy opened the door before jumping from the car. Police said he was uninjured.
WDSU obtained video of the moment the child jumped out of the car. You can watch that video above.
Officers were able to track the car using the boy’s cellphone, which was still in the car.
Switzer was found and arrested at a car dealership in Metairie, attempting to steal another car that belonged to the business.
WDSU also heard exclusively from the mother of the 10-year-old.
The mother did not want her or her son to be identified. She told O’Connor she had stopped at the Dollar General for a second to grab a few things. She left her son, who was eating in the back seat of her car. All of a sudden, she heard her son scream.
The mom said, “I heard my son call for me. He was like, ‘Mommy, mommy.’ He said, ‘Where is my mom?’ … I recognized his voice.”
“He was like, ‘Someone just stole the car.'”
Switzer is being held on multiple charges, including simple kidnapping and possession of stolen property in Kenner. Kenner police said he is accused of similar crimes in Florida and California.
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