What Police Say Happened Inside a Tulsa Walmart Before a Kidnapping Arrest Was Made Tuesday

 A routine shopping trip in Tulsa, Oklahoma, took a frightening turn when police say a stranger allegedly removed a 1-year-old child from a mother’s shopping cart and began walking away. The mother was inside Walmart with both of her children when, according to investigators, an ordinary conversation about the kids suddenly became an alarming encounter.

Tulsa Police said officers were called to the Walmart near 68th Street and Memorial Drive at approximately 5 p.m. after the reported incident. Investigators allege that 50-year-old Marshall Dixon approached the mother while she was shopping with her two children and briefly spoke with her about them. Moments later, police say Dixon lifted the 1-year-old from the shopping cart and placed the child into his own cart.

The mother immediately confronted Dixon and was able to take her child back, according to police. She then moved both children to a bathroom inside the store, locked the door, and called for help, creating a temporary place of safety while assistance was being sought. Meanwhile, Walmart employees intervened, removed the suspect from the store, and contacted 911 as the situation unfolded.

By the time Tulsa police officers arrived, Dixon was no longer inside the Walmart. Officers located a man matching the suspect’s description at a nearby bus stop and detained him as they investigated the mother’s report. The encounter had already ended with the child back in the mother’s care, but police continued working to determine exactly what had occurred inside the store.

During questioning, police say Dixon was asked about the reported abduction and gave a direct response. According to authorities, he said, “Yeah, I did that.” The statement was made after officers located him near the Walmart, and investigators proceeded with the arrest based on the circumstances described in the case.

Dixon was arrested Tuesday evening and booked into the Tulsa County Jail on a kidnapping charge, according to Tulsa Police. The charge represents the allegation against him, while the available information does not indicate that a court has reached a final determination of guilt. Police have described the incident as an attempted abduction because the mother was able to regain control of her child before Dixon could leave the store with the baby.

The most immediate outcome was that the 1-year-old was safely returned to the mother before the suspect could get out of Walmart with the child. That crucial moment changed what could have become an even more serious situation, allowing the mother to secure both children and seek assistance from inside the store. Employees also played a role by removing the suspect and calling emergency services, according to the account provided by police.

For the family, what began as a normal trip to buy everyday items instead became an experience centered on protecting a young child and getting help quickly. The reported incident also demonstrates how rapidly an ordinary public setting can become the focus of a police investigation when a child is allegedly taken without a parent’s permission. With Dixon now facing a kidnapping charge, the case will move forward through the legal process while the reported events remain under official scrutiny.