Marin Man Accused of Abducting 3-Year-Old Son From Grandparents' Home

MARIN COUNTY, CA — A San Rafael man remained behind bars Tuesday following his arrest for allegedly forcibly removing his 3-year-old son from the boy's grandparents' house in San Anselmo last week, according to authorities.

Central Marin Police Authority Sgt. Michael Legan said a report was received at 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 that a parental abduction had just occurred at a residence in the 100 block of Oakland Avenue.

The reporting party, Christopher Smith, told police he was babysitting his 3-year-old grandson when he heard a knock on the door. He looked outside and saw it was the father of the child, William Dwayne Lindsey, the sergeant said.

"The child’s mother, Caroline Smith, has sole physical custody of the child and Lindsey has limited visitation rights," Legan said. "Smith knew that Lindsey did not have a scheduled visit arranged. Smith started to step out the front door to speak with him when Lindsey pushed Smith back through the doorway, entered the house and located the child in the kitchen. Lindsey took the child and left through the back door."

As Lindsey fled the area, a countywide law enforcement broadcast was made with a description of the suspect vehicle. Within less than 20 minutes, CMPA officers located the car traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 101 from Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and conducted a traffic stop.

"The vehicle stopped without incident off of Tamalpais Drive in Corte Madera and Lindsey was taken into custody," Legan said. "The child was not injured and was reunited with his family."

As a result of a subsequent investigation, Lindsey, age 46, was booked at Marin County Jail on suspicion of multiple charges, including child stealing/parental abduction, burglary, child endangerment and battery, Legan said.

Jail records show Lindsey remains in custody, with bail set at $30,000. According to court records, he is due in court Wednesday afternoon.

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