SANTA ANA – Police have arrested a man who they suspect grabbed a 10-year-old boy walking to soccer practice near Delhi Park, officials said.

The 10-year-old was with his 19-year-old female cousin shortly after 7:30 p.m. Thursday when a man lured him close enough to grab him, police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

The boy yelled for help and tried to pull away, but the 425-pound man would not let go, so the boy broke free and ran to the park with his cousin to tell the soccer coach what happened, Bertagna said.

The coach found the man in front of the park and tried to detain him until officers arrived, Bertagna said, but he escaped and ran into the back yard of a home in the 500 block of East Central Avenue. Officers, with the help of a helicopter, found the man hiding in the back yard under a tree.

Victor Joseph Espinoza, 55, of Santa Ana was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment, child annoying and gang enhancements, Bertagna said. Espinoza was being held at the Santa Ana City Jail.

Contact the writer: 714-704-3709 or desalazar@ocregister.com