Australian DJ accused of kidnapping toddler appears in court as witnesses claim boy's mother screamed after he 'wrapped his arms around the boy's rear'

  • Roscoe Bradley Holyoake, 34, allegedly tried to kidnap a two-year-old boy
  • The toddler was walking with his mother in when he was allegedly grabbed
  • Good Samaritans who saw the incident 'took down Holyoake before his arrest' 
  • His lawyer has argued client may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time

By Paula Ahillon and Adam Mccleery For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:49 EDT, 17 April 2019 | Updated: 00:49 EDT, 17 April 2019

An Australian man accused of kidnapping a two-year-old boy made his first appearance in court on Tuesday. 

Roscoe Bradley Holyoake, a 34-year-old from Perth known as DJ Roski, was dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit when he appeared in a San Francisco court on Tuesday charged with kidnapping and child endangerment.

He was arrested on Friday after members of the public, including a dentist, said they heard the boy's mother's screams and chased after the Australian.

Roscoe Bradley Holyoake, 34, allegedly grabbed the toddler as he walked with his mother in San Francisco on Friday at about 12.25pm.       

Holyoake, known as DJ Roski, from East Victoria Park in Perth's south-west, was arrested and charged with kidnapping

Holyoake, known as DJ Roski, from East Victoria Park in Perth's south-west, was arrested and charged with kidnapping

Defence lawyer Stephen Olmo (pictured) argued it was a possible case of 'mistaken identity' and his client was 'in the wrong place at the wrong time'

Defence lawyer Stephen Olmo (pictured) argued it was a possible case of 'mistaken identity' and his client was 'in the wrong place at the wrong time' 

 Assistant District Attorney Brooke Jenkins told the court the boy's mother was pushing a stroller on San Francisco's 17th Street with her young son following closely behind her, the San Francisco Examiner reported.

When the mother was putting her mobile phone in her pocket she allegedly saw Holyoake carrying her son with his arms wrapped around the child's buttocks.

A 'tug-of-war over the child' allegedly then began between Holyoake and the mother who yelled: 'What are you doing?'

A local couple, Adam and Sabrina Walker, were in the vicinity with their own four-year-old son and told TV station KTVU they watched as Holyoake released the boy after the struggle, smiled and then attempted to run away.

Walker, a dentist, said he and other bystanders chased after Holyoake on foot.

'I think my fatherly instincts kicked in and I did what I thought was right,' Walker told KTVU.

Holyoake gave up after a short chase, Walker said.

He put his hands up, and said 'All right, I'm done' and he didn't fight back, didn't struggle, just obeyed my commands, walked to the sidewalk and put his hands on the wall and got on his knees,' Walker said.  

'He put the toddler down and he smiled at everybody and then started sprinting,' witness Sabrina Walker told media (pictured)

'He put the toddler down and he smiled at everybody and then started sprinting,' witness Sabrina Walker told media (pictured)

Mr Holyoake (pictured) was in the US for business and had been in the country a number of times before, including for charity work, the court heard

Mr Holyoake (pictured) was in the US for business and had been in the country a number of times before, including for charity work, the court heard

Holyoake, held on $US500,000 bond ($A697,000), will appear before a San Francisco Superior Court judge seeking bail on Thursday.

Holyoake's court-appointed lawyer, Stephen Olmo, said the Australian did not have a criminal record.

'He has been in this country many times doing charitable work, disc jockey work,' Olmo told reporters outside court. 

Holyoake, known as DJ Roski, from East Victoria Park in Perth's south-west, was arrested and charged with kidnapping at about 9pm on Friday.

After Holyoake appeared in court Mr Olmo argued it was a possible case of 'mistaken identity'. 

'Overzealous police work, mistaken identity, wrong place wrong time,' his lawyer said in reference to possible defences for his client. 

Mr Olmo said he was yet to see any video evidence linking his client to the alleged attempted abduction.   

Holyoake allegedly grabbed the toddler and ran off at the corner of Markets and 17th Street in the Castro neighbourhood of San Francisco (pictured)

Holyoake allegedly grabbed the toddler and ran off at the corner of Markets and 17th Street in the Castro neighbourhood of San Francisco (pictured)

In December last year Holyoake was a performer at Tim Minchin's (pictured together) wrap party for his new mini-series 'Upright', an experience he described as an 'absolute pleasure'

In December last year Holyoake was a performer at Tim Minchin's (pictured together) wrap party for his new mini-series 'Upright', an experience he described as an 'absolute pleasure'

Holyoake was once on the board of Pride WA (Western Australia) - a lobby group supporting LGBTIQ people, PerthNow reported. 

The DJ, who first began as a lighting technician for drag shows, was a radio presenter for the All Things Queer segment on RTRFM. 

If found guilty of the charges Holyoake could face at least ten years jail, a sentence which could be increased if the age of the alleged victim is taken into account.

In December last year Holyoake was a performer at Tim Minchin's wrap party for his new mini-series 'upright', an experience he described as an 'absolute pleasure', 9 News reported.  

Holyoake was a radio presenter for the All Things Queer segment (pictured) on RTRFM in Perth, Western Australia

Holyoake was a radio presenter for the All Things Queer segment (pictured) on RTRFM in Perth, Western Australia 

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Mother screamed as Australian accused of abducting toddler ‘wrapped his hands around the boy’s rear’

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