| Updated: 7/14/2010 10:41 am |
Published: 7/13/2010 2:04 pm
|
TULSA, OK - After a near-abduction at a Tulsa park by homeless men, residents in a Midtown neighborhood are even more furious.
Tulsa police say two men tried to snatch a 3-year old boy from his mother while they were at Maple Park Monday night.
The mother struggled with the men and they took off.
Police arrested Mitchell Keith. The second man, Gary Keefer, is still on the loose.
The incident has raised many concerns among neighbors in an area where a homeless center will soon be built, near 11th and Hudson.
Concerned parent Todd Johnson feels the housing complex will fuel crime in the neighborhood.
"It's too bad when an attempted abduction happens, but you wouldn't want to see every homeless person branded as a predator, but obviously some are," Johnson said.
Neighbor LeeAnne Henson, who lived as a homeless person for 10 years, feels homeless people shouldn't be labeled.
"Just because you're homeless, that doesn't make you a thief, it doesnt make you a bad person," Henson said. "Attacks like that can happen anywhere, in a good neighborhood or a bad neighborhood."
Henson feels the homeless housing complex won't pose a threat to the area.
"There are a lot of homeless people out there who have kids and need a place to start."
