LYNN, Mass. (WHDH) – A man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly tried to kidnap a 1-year-old girl from a laundromat in Lynn.
Police said they received a call just after 11 a.m. for an attempted kidnapping at the Showcase Laundromat on Washington Street. The man allegedly walked into the business, took the girl, who was sitting on a counter while her mother did laundry, and walked out.
Witnesses inside the laundromat saw the incident and alerted the girl’s mother. Police said the mother and other people in the laundromat chased the suspect out of the building. The mother allegedly confronted the man in the parking lot and got her daughter back. One witness was able to snap a picture of the man and gave it to police.
Police put out a BOLO for the suspect, who was spotted by an officer working a detail at a Stop and Shop grocery store not far away. The suspect, identified as 24-year-old Precious Chigbue was then arrested.
Emeka Iloea, who said he is Chigbue’s cousin, told 7News his cousin moved here from Africa four months ago and is mentally ill. He said Chigbye was probably confused and did not realize what he did was wrong.
Chigbue is due in court on Wednesday. The young girl was not hurt.
(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)