Quincy Man Tried to Leave Braintree Store with Stranger's Child: Police

BRAINTREE, MA — A Quincy man who was arrested earlier this year following a drug-related incident on Ardmore Street was back in court this week on new charges.

Stephen O'Brien, 47, was arraigned Monday in Quincy District Court. He was arrested Friday and charged with kidnapping and resisting arrest after physically resisting officer’s attempts to place him in custody. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail, according to court records.

On Aug. 12 at about 6:30 p.m., officers responded to a report of a possible child abduction at India Market on Quincy Avenue. The parents of the victim told police that they saw O'Brien, who was shirtless and wearing shorts, enter the store, lift their child over his shoulder, and attempt to walk out with the kid. Originally, the parents thought the man was an employee playing with the child but quickly learned that O'Brien didn't work there. When the child's father confronted O'Brien, he left the child behind and fled the store through the rear door. Witnesses told police that they saw O'Brien run into the woods behind the store.

Outside, police ordered O'Brien to come out but he allegedly told them to come find him, court records said. Officers were able to locate O'Brien, who held on to a tree when police attempted to arrest him. Police were able to arrest O'Brien despite a brief struggle.

Surveillance video from the store showed the incident as described, Jenkins said.

This isn't O'Brien's first arrest of the year. In January, he was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and more notably in March, he was arrested on drug charges following an incident on Ardmore Street that sent a police officer who touched a bag believed to PCP to the hospital, forced officers to evacuate the area, and required a hazmat team.

O'Brien is due back in court on Sept. 14.

Information in this article is from the Braintree Police Department and Quincy District Court. Arrests and charges mentioned don't imply conviction.

Image Credit: Braintree Police Department via WHDH/7-News