Authorities in New Hampshire said a woman tried to kidnap a 1-year-old baby on Saturday, after a man spotted her walking alone and offered her a ride.
The Rochester Police Department reports that a male driver, 52, spotted Joanne Shaw, 25, of Gonic, walking by herself along Washington Street in Rochester. He asked the woman if she needed a ride. She agreed and got into his vehicle.
On 07-22-2017 at 8:41am, Officers of the Rochester Police Department responded to Washington Street for a report of a…
Posted by Rochester NH Police Department on Sunday, July 23, 2017
Within minutes of getting into the car, Shaw noticed the driver’s 1-year-old daughter and reportedly began unbuckling the child’s car seat buckle. According to Rochester Police Capt. Jason Thomas, Shaw announced to the driver that she intended to take his baby.
“She started unbuckling the 21-month-old in the backseat, saying she was going to take the child….As you can imagine, him trying to stop this lady from taking his daughter while also trying to pull over.”
The driver pulled the car over, but Shaw already had the baby in her arms and opened the door. The driver struggled with her but Shaw grabbed for the key in the ignition and somehow managed to break it in half before jumping out of the car with the baby.
The little girl’s father gave chase and when he caught up to Shaw, she started punching him. Police arrived and tried to detain Shaw, but she resisted. Eventually police arrested her. The infant was not injured. Thomas said the baby’s father suffered minor abrasions.
“He’s OK….Just minor, minor injuries to him.”
Shaw is charged with kidnapping, simple assault, resisting arrest, and criminal mischief. She’s being held on a held on $5,000.00 cash-only bond at the Strafford County House of Corrections.
[Feature Photo: Strafford County House of Corrections]
