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Growing outrage over attempt kidnapping suspect's release on bail

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VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) There is growing outrage that a man accused of trying to rip a toddler out of his parent's car is out of jail on bail.

Peter Kopcak and his fiance Jennifer Lawson were backing out of the Costco parking lot on Hacienda Drive in Vista Saturday afternoon.

"I just seen out of the corner of my eye this guy running down between the two cars, and I didn't know what he was doing," said Kopcak.

The couple said the guy tried to rip their toddler out of his car seat.

"He opened the car seat back door, reached in and grabbed my kid, she jumped out of the car, left it in reverse, I put it in park. I jumped out, he was trying to grab the car seat and, she pushed him and I just had to take him down," said Kopcak.

Kopcak tackled the man to the ground.

"I took him to the ground and did what I had to do to subdue, a bunch of people, an off duty officer pulled me off the guy and held him down told him to put his hands behind his back," said Kopcak.

Sheriff's deputies arrested 37-year-old Adam Glavinic. He's facing charges of felony attempted kidnapping and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

"I thought he was going to take my kid and I wasn't about to let that happen, I'd do anything I could to stop him cause that's the worst nightmare, just having someone A, touch your kid, B, try to take your kid," said Kopcak.

The couple was also upset to learn Glavinic was released from jail on a $100,000 bail Sunday.

"I couldn't stop crying when I found out, cause he will do this to someone else and who knows if it's a single mom or the husband isn't quick enough, and the guy takes off," said Lawson.

"I don't understand how he got out so fast. What if he tries to grab another kid or hurt someone else? It boggles my mind," said Kopcak.

There's a backlog of out of custody cases due to the pandemic. Glavinic isn't scheduled for arraignment until February.

The district attorney's office can't comment specifically on this case, but Chief Deputy District Attorney Rachel Solov says give the system a chance.

"Let the investigation be done, let law enforcement get all the information and submit it to the district attorney's office to be evaluated," said Solov.

A spokeswoman with the DA's office says they're getting a lot of calls and emails from parents concerned about this case. The case is also generating outrage on social media with a lot of people commenting that bail should be much higher.

"There are legal mechanisms if the facts and circumstances of a case warrant it to be able to do that, to be able to request a judge to sign an arrest warrant that would increase bail," said Solov.

Solov said changes to the bail schedule due to the pandemic would not have affected this case.

"Those modifications did not at all affect any of those serious or violent offenses such as kidnapping," said Solov.

The D.A's office says a prosecutor has been assigned to the case. The San Diego Sheriff's Department sent 10News the following statement Tuesday evening.

"The San Diego County Sheriff's Department and Vista Sheriff's Station want to reassure our community regarding a case of an attempted kidnapping. It happened on Saturday, September 19th outside a store parking lot on Hacienda Drive.

We understand this incident is upsetting for our community members and concerning for parents, guardians and caregivers.

This appears to be an isolated incident. Detectives are continuing their investigation and deputies are committed to keeping your families safe.

We also hear your concerns regarding the suspect bailing out of jail within 24 hours of his arrest. Everyone has a legal right to bail as guaranteed by our Constitution. Bail is set by the San Diego Superior Court."