x
Breaking News
More () »

TOP 19: Tyler man formally charged for allegedly kidnapping 8-year-old girl, bond set at $100K

According to CBS19's sister station, WFAA, police arrested Michael Webb, 51, of Tyler, in connection with the abduction of Salem Sabatka.

FORT WORTH, Texas — *Editorial Note: This story was originally published on May 19, 2019. Updates to this story have been linked at the bottom.

A Tyler man was formally charged Monday for the alleged kidnapping of an 8-year-old Fort Worth girl on Saturday.

According to CBS19's sister station, WFAA, police arrested Michael Webb, 51, of Tyler, Sunday in connection with the abduction of Salem Sabatka. He was charged with aggravated kidnapping and is being held on $100,000 bond. Other charges are pending.

RELATED: Missing 8-year-old girl, Salem Sabatka, found safe

RELATED: Who is Michael Webb: Breaking down rap sheet of Tyler man accused of kidnapping 8-year-old Fort Worth girl

WFAA reports citizens located Webb's vehicle at the WoodSpring Suites Fort Worth Hotel in Forest Hill early Sunday morning. Forth Worth police then found the child, unharmed, and Webb in the hotel.

A regional AMBER ALERT was issued Saturday after police say Webb kidnapped the child in the 2900 block of 6th Avenue in Fort Worth. 

According to police, the child and her mother were walking when Webb approached them and grabbed the girl. Sabatka's mother jumped in the car in an effort to get her daughter back, but Webb reportedly shoved the mother out and drove away. Sabatka's mother then called police.

Information regarding Webb's alleged motive and his connection to the girl are unknown at this time.

His bond was set at $100,000. However, other charges are pending that would likely increase the bond.

Webb, also known as "Thin Man," has a lengthy criminal record in Smith County and Gregg County having racked up more than 15 arrests since 1985.

Credit: Smith County/Gregg County judicial records

RELATED: Tyler man known as 'Thin Man' indicted for sexual assault

His most recent arrest was on April 26, 2018, in which he was jailed for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and sexual assault. He was released on a personal recognizance bond after his case was dismissed in November 2018.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Richard Vance, the Smith County prosecutor assigned to his sexual assault/aggravated assault case, said the case was dismissed after the alleged victim "became uncooperative and apparently left the state."

“Our hands were pretty much tied on that one, otherwise we would have prosecuted him,” Vance said in an interview with the Star-Telegram.

RELATED: Michael Webb sentenced to life for kidnapping of 8-year-old girl off Fort Worth street

RELATED: Michael Webb found guilty in Fort Worth child kidnapping case

RELATED: 'She's one of the bravest people I ever met': Fort Worth police officers recall harrowing rescue of kidnapped 8-year-old girl

RELATED: Fort Worth police release body cam video of moment officers rescue kidnapped girl in Michael Webb case

Before You Leave, Check This Out