July 27, 2012
A man who walked into a Devonport childcare centre and allegedly tried to carry two children out has been charged with attempted abduction and assault.
Police allege the 44-year-old man picked up the two-year-olds, telling staff he was their carer. Quick work from the centre's childcare workers prevented him leaving with the children and the man co-operated with staff until police arrived.
The man, from Boat Harbour, 60 kilometres west of Devonport, is also facing one count of common assault for allegedly touching the face of another two-year-old. ''It was a totally isolated incident,'' Detective Senior Sergeant Stuart Wilkinson said.
''It was certainly not something we expect to happen, not something that any childcare centre expects to happen or wants to happen,'' Sergeant Wilkinson said.
''That's why they have procedures in place in regard to how they release their children and who they release them to and I guess it worked on this occasion.''
The man has not applied for bail and will appear in court again next month. AAP