BRAINTREE, MASS. (WHDH) - A Braintree man was arrested after allegedly kidnapping a child at a business last week.

Stephen O’Brien, 47 of Braintree, was arrested on Aug. 12.

Around 6:30 p.m., officers responded to a Quincy Avenue business on a report of a possible child abduction.

Once they arrived, witnesses directed them to a wooded area in the back of the business where they said the suspect was last seen.

Officers found O’Brien and learned through witnesses and video footage from the store that he entered the store, picked up a 13-month-old child who was with his parents and walked toward the back of the store at a fast pace.

The parents initially did not know what was going on, police said, and thought the man might be an employee playing with the child.

Police said O’Brien was then confronted by the child’s father.

He handed the child back to the father and left through the back door.

Police said he was hiding in the woods behind the store.

He was charged with kidnapping and resisting arrest.

(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Join our Newsletter for the latest news right to your inbox