Kidnapping In Essex Reported

ESSEX, MD — A woman is in custody and charges are pending after she allegedly gave a 4-year-old boy a "bear hug," and tried to kidnap him from his neighborhood in Essex. Police said neighbors and the boy's mother struggled with the woman to free the child and return him to his family. The woman was a stranger, the Baltimore County Police Department said in a statement Monday.

The kidnapping happened the evening of Friday, June 15, police said. A mother had been watching her son play outside their home in the 1600 block of Renaissance Drive when she went into the garage to get a toy for him, then heard his scooter hit the ground, officials reported.

Neighbors said they saw a woman grab the 4-year-old boy in a "bear hug" then walk away holding him toward Back River Neck Road, according to police. They helped the mother find the woman, who was in the 100 block of Back River Neck Road, still holding the child and refusing to release him, officials said.

"...neighbors struggled with the woman to release the child," police said. The boy suffered minor injuries, and eventually he was able to be reunited with his mother, police said.

At 8 p.m. on Friday, officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Back River Neck Road for a report of a fight; and that is when they learned of the kidnapping.

The victim does not know the child or the mother, police said.

The suspect is in custody but has not been formally charged with kidnapping as of Monday morning, police said, stating her identity would be disclosed once charges were filed.

Patch file photo.