Watchung Lt. Honored For Stopping Abduction Of Young Girl

WATCHUNG, NJ — Watchung Police Lt. Bill Kelly was honored for stopping a "dangerous, suicidal" man armed with a knife from abducting a young girl in March.

The Watchung Borough Council passed a resolution on April 19 commending Kelly on his actions that night.

It was Monday, March 26 around 11:30 p.m. when Kelly saw a man with a young child walking on Route 22 in Green Brook, "which immediately seemed highly unusual and potentially suspicious to him," according to the resolution.

When Kelly tried to talk to the man, he took off running with the child, jumping across the divided Rt. 22 barrier.

Kelly chased after the man on foot while calling for backup. Kelly eventually cornered the man where the man made threatening remarks to Kelly multiple times possibly endangering the life of the young child, according to the resolution.

Kelly, with the help of responding police units, was able to deescalate the situation and free the young child from the man’s grip and bring the child to safety, according to the resolution.

It was later revealed that the young child had been reported missing from her grandparents’ home in Plainfield earlier in the day. She was abducted by her uncle who was described as dangerous, suicidal and schizophrenic and upon arrest, was found to be in possession of a large knife, police report.

The Mayor and council congratulated Kelly "for his outstanding actions that exemplify the highest levels of police service in the finest tradition of the Watchung Police Department."

(Image via Watchung Borough)

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