Arrest after baby girl snatched in Crawley

A woman was also assaulted during the incident

Author: Ryan BurrowsPublished 22nd Sep 2021

Police in Crawley have arrested a man following a 'violent incident' in which a one-year-old baby girl was snatched and a woman assaulted.

The child was with a man and a woman in the play area of the Memorial Garden at the time of the incident, between 5pm and 5.30pm on Monday (September 20th).

Sussex Police said the man took hold of the child, refused to return her to the woman and walked off towards the car park by the play area while pushing the woman.

He then sped off, allegedly without securing the child in the car properly.

Police were informed and swiftly found and pursued the car to the nearby West Green area where it stopped.

The child and woman were unharmed and are receiving support from specially trained officers.

The 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill, common assault, dangerous driving and possessing an offensive weapon.

After being interviewed he was released on police bail until October 19th while enquiries continue.

Detective Constable Penny Furtado of the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said;

"If you were in the Memorial Gardens area that afternoon and saw what happened, please contact us either online or by calling 101, quoting serial 1000 of 20/09."

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