LYNN — Police say a 1-year-old girl was nearly kidnapped by a man at a Washington Street laundromat on Tuesday morning.
Officers responded to the reported abduction attempt at Showcase Coin-Op Inc. shortly after 11 a.m.
A witness had alerted the 28-year-old mother that he had seen a man, later identified as Precious Chigbue, of Lynn, walk out of the laundromat with her baby in his arms, Lynn Police Lt. Michael Kmiec said.
The witness, a 32-year-old Lynn man, knew that the child didn’t belong with Chigbue, 24. He told the mother what was happening and they both confronted the suspect outside, where Chigbue turned the girl over. The suspect then took off, Kmiec said.
Responding officers got a picture of the suspect and radioed his description to other units. A Lynn Police officer was working the Stop & Shop detail up the street from the laundromat and stopped Chigbue, based on his description, as he was leaving the grocery store, Kmiec said.
Chigbue was later identified by the witness. He was arrested and charged with kidnapping.
“He (Chigbue) did make some alarming statements to the investigating officers and the detectives,” Kmiec said.
Kmiec said it does not appear that Chigbue knew the child. Both victims, the mother and her daughter, are from Lynn.
Chigbue is expected to be arraigned in Lynn District Court Wednesday morning.
