ROCHESTER, NH (WMUR/CNN) – A woman in New Hampshire was arrested Saturday after allegedly trying to kidnap a toddler from her father’s car.
Police say Joanne Shaw, 25, was arrested after a series of events that began when she accepted a ride offer from a 52-year-old man, who had his daughter in the back of the car.
"Soon after he pulled over, she reached into the car and made a statement, 'I'm taking your child,'" said Assistant Strafford County Attorney Joachim Barth.
The man told police that Shaw then reached into the back of the car for the 21-month-old girl.
"There was a short struggle in the car, where she allegedly broke off the key that was in the ignition, hampering his ability to operate the vehicle," Barth said.
Prosecutors say as the man pulled over, Shaw grabbed the child and ran off. The girl’s father chased after her, trying to get his daughter back.
"In that process, the child was apparently dropped. She [Shaw] continued to fight, allegedly punching him in the face,” Barth said.
The assistant attorney says Shaw persisted in trying to take the child even after police arrived.
"Even when police officers showed up and separated her from the child, she continued to stare at the child and actually made physical efforts to, in the presence of police officers, to regain possession of the child," Barth said.
Shaw appeared Monday at Strafford County Superior Court, where a judge determined that she is a danger to herself and the community unless she gets help for mental health issues.
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