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PD: Man charged with kidnapping 6-year-old Norton girl

NORTON, Mass. — Police have charged a 32-year-old Brockton man with kidnapping after a 6-year-old Norton girl disappeared Friday afternoon.

The girl was reported missing around 11:50 a.m. Police searched for hours for the girl, who was found safe, but in an unfamiliar man's car. Witnesses told police they saw a child talking to a man in a dark-colored sedan on Foundry Street.

Around 2:45 p.m., Easton police saw a vehicle matching that description and stopped it. They found the missing 6-year-old in the back seat. Police say she was unharmed and uninjured.

The driver was identified as 32-year-old Avery Howard of Brockton. He was arrested and is charged with kidnapping, assault and battery.

Police said Howard did not know the girl, was not related to her and does have a criminal history. They believe the girl was with him for a couple of hours.

Police said the girl did leave home on her own, and they are looking into why she did that. She did leave with a bag.

A date for arraignment has not yet been set.

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Posted by Boston 25 News on Friday, May 26, 2017