The man accused of kidnapping and assaulting a child is off the streets and facing several felony charges.
NBC 5 obtained footage of 41-year-old Leonard Lamar Neal as he was booked into the Dallas County jail this week. There’s a sigh of relief in the Oak Cliff community where police say he committed the crimes.
In the booking footage, Neal is seen wearing a yellow jumpsuit, slouched in a wheelchair surrounded by officers. Neal faces charges of aggravated kidnapping, kidnapping, and aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Police said he's responsible for the June 11 abduction of two children in Oak Cliff.
Get top local stories in DFW delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC DFW's News Headlines newsletter.
On the day of the kidnapping, Neal soon let one of the children go while taking off with the second child and holding her for several hours, before letting that child go as well.
The case prompted an Amber Alert and placed Neal on the state’s most wanted list, while photos of his mugshot and vehicle circulated the news.
The footage of officers booking Neal this week comes days after Dallas Police and U.S. Marshals took him into custody at a DART station in Dallas. Aerial footage near Polk Street and Camp Wisdom captures officers surrounding the station after responding to calls that a man was harming himself.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
As officers approached, Neal caused injury to himself, according to police. Officers were able to take him into custody and called for assistance from Dallas Fire and Rescue. DFR responded and took Neal to a local hospital in critical condition. Once he recovered, he was transported to jail.
Back in the neighborhood where the kidnappings took place, residents told NBC 5 they're thankful Neal was caught.
A woman who said she's lived in the area for years didn't want to be identified but said the entire ordeal is unimaginable.
“I have kids and grandkids and I'm scared to walk away from them or even turn around to grab something because it's scary that somebody could take them,” she said. “But I'm really glad they caught him and he's off the streets.”
The children were returned to their family. A spokesperson for the family and victims told NBC 5 they have a difficult road ahead to recovery.
Neal is in jail under two $500,000 and a $100,000 bond.
