A 57-year-old homeless man who tried to abduct a 4-year-old girl while in church was taken into custody and was then transported to Trinitas Medical Center's New Point campus for a psychiatric evaluation, police said this afternoon.
Police responded to the Mount Calvary United Church of God, located on 1st Street, sometime around 2:30 p.m. for an attempted abduction.
Upon arrival, a search began for the suspect, later identified as Kevin Daniels.
According to police, Daniels was located on a porch on Pine Street, where he assaulted responding officers as he resisted the arrest.
Responding officers suffered minor injuries during the struggle. However, no other injuries were reported.
Daniels was taken to Trinitas Medical Center's New Point campus for a psychiatric evaluation.
Further investigations revealed, Daniel - who was known to congregate at the church for food - for unknown reasons, attempted to take the 4-year-old girl by the arm as she sat on her father's lap.
Members of the congregation began to struggle which possibly prevented the abduction.
Daniel was charged with two counts of assault on police, resisting arrest, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Attempted abduction charges are pending.