(WWJ) A naturalized U.S. citizen from Pakistan has been charged with trying to kidnap a young child in Canada after meeting his mother online.
In a criminal complaint unsealed on Thursday, federal authorities say 46-year-old Shahzad Hameedi, who lives in Metro Detroit, began dating a single mother in Windsor, Ontario, while using an alias.
Text messages included in a criminal complaint show Hameedi increasingly expressed an interest in the woman's 4-year-old son, frequently asking to see him. Things escalated over time, as the texts show Hameedi wanted to adopt the boy, and rename him Sherzad.
In April, Hameedi texted, "I wonder how he will react if we were to tell him that I’m his father," and, "I personally think that you should give me sole custody of Sherzad."
After the woman restricted him from seeing her child, the feds say in June he "embarked on an operation to kidnap" the boy.
During the investigation, federal agents said they recovered a laminated ransom note, a stun gun, a toddler life vest, zip ties, duct tape, rubber gloves, and strong cold medication with a funnel. Evidence also showed that Hameedi had researched tranquilizers, the feds said.
In June, the U.S. Justice Department said Hameed was chased off while trying to strangle the woman in her home. He allegedly returned two days later and assaulted the child, causing injuries that required care at a hospital.
A news release by the Windsor Police Department says Hameedi was arrested on June 27 at a home in Royal Oak.
U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon said, in a statement: “The defendant’s alleged plan to kidnap a young child by sneaking across the border and entering Canada, breaking into a mother’s home at night, strangling her and then assaulting her innocent, young child two days later is diabolical. No parent or child should ever be subjected to this wickedness. We will bring the full force of the law against violent predators.”
“HSI is committed to working with our Canadian partners to hold criminals accountable and safeguard innocent children on both sides of the Northern border,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stentz. “I’m proud of the HSI agents, the Windsor Police Service and the prosecutors who worked tirelessly to bring charges in this case.”
Hameedi faces at least 20 years in prison if convicted on an attempted kidnapping charge.
The case remains under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and Windsor Police.