Mobile, Ala. (BuzzReport) — Questions are being raised in the community following the arrest of a man in West Mobile after an incident involving a mother and her children in a parking lot on Schillinger Road South. While police say the case remains under investigation, some witnesses and family members believe the charges filed so far do not fully reflect what occurred.
According to the Mobile Police Department, officers responded Saturday, March 14, 2026, at approximately 12:40 p.m. to a report of a disorderly individual in the parking lot of 790 Schillinger Road South in West Mobile.
The complainant told officers that a male subject exited his truck and began walking toward her vehicle, where her two children were standing nearby. Concerned about the man’s intentions, the woman repeatedly told him to get back. The man initially returned to his vehicle but exited again a short time later.
By that time, the children had moved to the opposite side of the vehicle and were no longer visible to the man, according to police. Authorities say the suspect then made a sexual gesture before returning to his vehicle, where he remained until officers arrived.
When officers reached the scene, they reportedly observed the man inside the vehicle inhaling compressed air. Police removed him from the vehicle and detained him. During a search of the truck, officers discovered numerous cans of compressed air, which authorities say are sometimes misused as inhalants.
The suspect, identified as Caleb Rich, 21, was arrested without incident and transported to Mobile Metro Jail. He was charged with public intoxication, failure to obey a lawful order, possession of drug paraphernalia, and disorderly conduct.
However, the nature of the incident has sparked concern among some community members and the family involved.
In a live social media video posted after the incident, family members of the children and at least one witness described what they believe were attempts by the suspect to abduct a child. In the video, they claim the situation was more serious than reflected in the current charges.
Responding officers reportedly told those involved that any claims of an attempted kidnapping would need to be investigated further by detectives. Officers also advised the family to contact the department so the case could be reviewed by investigators.
At this time, police have not filed any kidnapping-related charges.
The discrepancy between the initial emergency call and the charges currently filed has led some community members to question why the suspect was only charged with drug-related and disorderly offenses.
“A child could have been missing,” one concerned resident commented online as discussion about the incident spread across local social media platforms.
Police say the case remains an active investigation and that additional details could emerge as detectives review witness statements and evidence.
Authorities emphasized that because the investigation is ongoing, no further information will be released at this time.