Bystander Bitten Thwarting Providence Kennedy Plaza Kidnapping: Cops

PROVIDENCE, RI — A bystander was bittenby a would-be kidnapper who grabbed a child from his mother near Kennedy Plaza, police said.

Dinis Pimentel, 57, was charged with the attempted kidnapping of a minor, assault, obstructing an officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct in connection with the 7:20 a.m. Tuesday incident.

"According to investigators, Pimentel approached a woman who was walking with her children in the downtown area and allegedly attempted to pull one of the children away from her while yelling statements about 'saving the kids,'” Kristy dosReis, the chief public information officer for the Providence Department of Public Safety, said in an email.

"During the encounter, Pimentel allegedly struck the mother multiple times and attempted to gain control of both children," dosReis said. "Several bystanders intervened, preventing the children from being taken and assisting the mother. During the struggle, one bystander was bitten before the suspect fled the area on foot."

Officers located Pimentel nearby and arrested him "following a brief foot pursuit and struggle," according to dosReis, and the mother, children and a bystander were evaluated by medical personnel.

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