
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, August 4, 1995                   TAG: 9508040036
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV13   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RADFORD                                 LENGTH: Short

RADFORD MAN CHARGE IN ABDUCTION ATTEMPT

Police arrested a Radford man Wednesday shortly after an attempt to take a toddler away from its mother and an assault on the woman after she screamed for help.

Charles William Hardy, 43, of Willow Woods Apartments was charged with one count of attempted abduction and one count of assault and battery.

He was taken into custody after the 12:45 p.m. incident, in which, a 2-year-old boy was jerked away from his mother, according to police. When the woman screamed, she was pushed to the ground and her attacker tried to silence her by putting his hand over her mouth, police said.

The woman and the child were neighbors of Hardy's. Her screams attracted the attention of the apartment-complex management, who called police. Neither the woman nor her child was badly hurt.

Deputy Chief Jonny Butler said police did not know a motive in the incident.

Hardy remained in jail Thursday in lieu of $10,000 bond. He is set to appear in court Aug. 30 to face the charges.

by CNB