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Police Arrest Woman Trying To Kidnap 6-Year-Old Boy With Machete, Axe

Federico Parra. Getty.

Melanie Wilcox Contributor
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A woman was arrested Sunday in Portland, Oregon, after she tried kidnapping a 6-year-old boy, threatened his family with bladed weapons and used racial slurs, according to the Portland Police Bureau.

After someone called with a report of an attempted child kidnapping, Central Precinct officers went to Southwest 3rd Avenue and West Burnside Street at 3:43 p.m. on Sunday, according to the Portland Police Bureau. The police officers located and then found and arrested the suspect, 37-year-old Elizabeth A. Zurcher-Wood, at Southwest 1st Avenue and Southwest Ankeny Street upon arrival. (RELATED: ‘I Want My Daddy’: Watch As Police Rescue Alleged Kidnapping Victim)

The caller told the police officers Zurcher-Wood approached a family waiting in line at a pizza restaurant. She lunged at the 6-year-old boy and said she wanted him, according to the Portland Police Bureau. The boy backed away and threw things at her, and she then threatened him with weapons and spewed racial slurs before running off, according got the Portland Police Bureau.

The Portland Police said they found a machete and an axe, which were seized as evidence.

Zurcher-Wood is at the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of second-degree kidnapping, three counts of second-degree bias, unlawful use of a weapon, second-degree disorderly conduct and menacing.