PONTIAC (WWJ) - A Lincoln Park man appeared in Pontiac's 50th District Court Tuesday, accused of trying to abduct a little girl in Pontiac.
WWJ Newsradio 950's Jon Hewett reported 30-year-old Stevie Hutchins said little as he was arraigned via video on a charge of attempted kidnapping.
A not guilty plea was entered on Hutchins' behalf and he was ordered remanded into custody in the Oakland County Jail without bond.
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said the victim was with her mother in the area of E. Auburn Rd. and Rochester Rd. in Pontiac at around 10 a.m. Saturday when Hutchins approached. He allegedly tried to grab the 3-year-old girl, but stopped when the mom yelled at him.
The suspect stepped away but came back and grabbed the girl again, Bouchard said, trying to pull the child away from her mother's grasp. When a friend of the mom pointed a can of Mace, the suspect fled. The mom and friend went into a liquor store to call for help and deputies found Hutchins a short distance away.
He was arrested without incident. The child was not injured.
"It's highly unusual for a complete stranger to target a complete stranger," the sheriff told WWJ.
"There's some kind of mental health order (for the suspect) on file out of Wayne County," he added, "but that doesn't obfuscate the obvious danger to this child or the impact and fear on the mom."
Hutchins will be back in court for a preliminary exam scheduled for July 2. He faces up to 5 years in prison if convicted.