Woman Tried to Snatch 3-Year-Old From Stroller on Metro Train, Authorities Say

A woman has been charged with attempting to abduct a 3-year-old girl who was in a stroller aboard an Orange Line Metro train.

Shortly after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, a mother and her child were aboard a train at the Foggy Bottom station when, according to a charging document, 48-year-old Monique McKnight began walking toward them, yelling.

McKnight then reached down into the stroller and grabbed the child by the arms and tried to pull her out of the stroller, according to the document. Another rider intervened, and with other passengers, held her down until police arrived, authorities said.

The little girl was left with bruises and scratches on her arms.

McKnight has been charged with attempted kidnapping and first-degree cruelty to children, police announced Thursday.

McKnight had not cooperated with police Wednesday, they said. She gave her name as Debbie, but they later identified her as McKnight.

The mother told police that she and her daughter did not know McKnight.

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