MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Two people are behind bars, accused of an attempted abduction in a St. Paul park.

It happened Wednesday around 8:30 p.m. inside Indian Mounds Park. A mother took her children, ages 4 and 1, inside the small restroom. Her 4-year-old finished first and was waiting outside the stall when the mother heard something strange.

“While she was attending to her child, she heard someone speaking to her child outside the stall,” said St. Paul Police public information officer Sgt. Mike Ernster.

Police say when the mother opened the door, she saw a woman she had never seen before holding her daughter’s hand.

“There was a conversation,” Ernster said. “The victim expressed to us that the woman asked if she could buy her children from her.”

Police say mom grabbed her children and ran outside.

She told officers a man was standing near the doorway, acting as a lookout for the woman.

She ran and told her husband who was close by.

“When this occurred, a security officer was nearby,” Ernster said. “That officer was able to get this information from their parents put it out on the police radio.”

Within minutes, police were able to stop the pair as they tried to leave the park.

St. Paul police have had a strong presence in the park since last month’s gang shooting.

Police say that increased presence helped catch the pair before they got away.

A 59-year-old woman and 60-year-old man are being held in the Ramsey County Jail.

The County Attorney has until noon on Friday to file charges or release them.