An Australian DJ who is locked up in a San Francisco jail after allegedly attempting to snatch a two-year-old boy off a busy street will have a chance to win bail later this week.
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.
This undated photo released by the San Francisco Police Department shows Roscoe Bradley Holyoake. Source: San Francisco Police Department
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?"
Roscoe Holyoake Source: Facebook
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," Mr Walker told KTVU.
Holyoake gave up after a short chase, Mr 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," Mr Walker said.
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," Mr Olmo told reporters outside court.
