Cheektowaga, NY (WBEN) Cheektowaga Police say the man who caused a standoff with Amherst Police faces several charges after taking his child from a supervised visit at Child Protective Services Thursday.
Police say a foster parent and the child of 21 year old Shaland Souverain were preparing for a visitation appointment with Souverain, whose custody rights had been removed by Erie County Family Court. While the foster parent and child were in the waiting room of the Child Protection Office at Appletree Business Park, police say Souverain entered the lobby, grabbed the child and fled the office.
Police say an Erie County Child Protection Services employee ran after Souverain as he fled the office and tried to stop Souverain. Police say Souverain shoved the employee into another parked vehicle and entered his vehicle. The employee tried to keep Souverain from driving off, but police say Soverain struck the employee with his vehicle and drove off.
Amherst Police Department were notified to check Souverain's residence on Travers Circle. After a lengthy negotiation, Souverain was eventually taken into custody by the Amherst Police. That led to a delay in dismissal for nearby Sweet Home students.
The child was located, uninjured, and turned over to Child Protection Services.
Souverain now faces the following charges:
Kidnapping felony
Custodial Interference felony
Unlawful Imprisonment felony
Endangering the welfare of a child misdemeanor
Criminal Contempt of Court misdemeanor
Assault (3 counts) felony
Reckless Endangerment felony
Souverain was held pending arraignment.
The Child Protection Service was transported to ECMC for treatment.
