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A Saint John child abduction attempt on Saturday has led to a long list of charges against a 34-year-old woman. Police say she tried to take two young children and assaulted an officer during her arrest.
According to the Saint John Police Force, the first incident happened around 10 a.m. near Eglington Court. A child was riding a bicycle when the woman allegedly tried to grab them. The attempt failed, but she reportedly threatened a family member at the scene.
Shortly after, police say the woman tried again. She allegedly grabbed another child nearby, but a family member quickly intervened and stopped the abduction. No injuries occurred during either encounter, but the woman allegedly issued more threats.
Officers located and arrested the suspect a short time later. During the arrest, the woman gave a false name and assaulted one of the officers. The officer did not suffer any injuries. Investigators confirmed she had no connection to either child.
Police charged her with multiple offenses following the Saint John child abduction attempt. These include:
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Two counts of attempted abduction of a person under 14
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Two counts of assault
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Two counts of uttering threats
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Assaulting a peace officer
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Obstructing a peace officer
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Possession of a substance believed to be methamphetamine
The woman has not been publicly identified. She appeared in provincial court on Tuesday. The court ordered a five-day mental health assessment to determine her fitness for trial.
She remains in custody and is scheduled to return for a bail hearing on August 11.
Police are continuing to investigate. Authorities encourage anyone with further information about the incident to contact them.
The attempted abductions caused concern in the Eglington Court neighborhood, but swift action by family members and police prevented further harm. Saint John police continue patrolling the area and reassured residents that the suspect is no longer a threat.
