Police: Man attempted to kidnap 1-year-old from Lynn laundromat

LYNN, Mass. — A man has been charged with trying to kidnap a 1-year-old girl from a laundromat in Massachusetts.

Lynn police say the suspect went inside the laundromat around 11 a.m. Tuesday and picked up the child, who was sitting at a table, and tried to leave. They say he was stopped by a witness and the mother.

“Things could have gone very bad,” Lawrence Police Lt. Michael Kimec said.

Police say the suspect, identified as 24-year-old Precious Chigbue, of Lynn, fled the store on foot after being confronted. He was arrested at a nearby store.

Police say he has no relationship with the child, and the child was uninjured.

Emeka Iloa is Chigbue’s cousin and said he has mental health issues and recently switched to a new medicine.

“He’s not a danger to anybody, he’s never hurt anybody before he’s never hurt me before. He’s never hurt my mom before anyone in my family,”

Chigbue is expected to be arraigned Wednesday on a kidnapping charge. It wasn't immediately clear if he has an attorney.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

TOP STORIES:

Cox Media Group