A man from New York state was apprehended last week for abducting a 5-year-old boy as Child Protective Services were in the process of removing the boy from his home.
Child Protective Services from two counties, along with Gloversville Police, were present on Friday to carry out a court-mandated removal when Sergio Poietti arrived, claiming to be a family acquaintance, WTEN reported. He inquired about the situation and then reportedly left the premises by officials’ accounts.
However, Poietti had not left. Instead, he went to the other side of the house, entered through a window, and kidnapped the boy. CPS and police realized the child was gone shortly after when they entered the home with the boy’s mother.
Police launched a city-wide search and found the child with Proietti at another home about 90 minutes later,, WNYT said. The boy had not been harmed.
Proietti was charged with kidnapping, custodial interference, obstruction of governmental administration, and endangering the welfare of a child. He was booked into the Fulton County Correctional Facility with a $7,500 bail.
Police did not characterize the actual relationship between Proietti, the child, and the mother.
