PORTLAND, Ore. — Elizabeth A. Zurcher-Wood, 37, has been arrested and charged with kidnapping in the second degree, three counts of bias crime in the second degree, unlawful use of a weapon, disorderly conduct in the second degree and menacing after she allegedly tried to kidnap a 6-year-old boy from his family.
Portland police said that on Aug. 22, officers were sent out to Southwest Third Avenue and West Burnside Street to speak with a family who reported an attempted kidnapping. The family told police that they were waiting outside of a pizza restaurant when Zurcher-Wood approached them. She tried to lunge at the 6-year-old boy, saying she wanted to take him.
The family tried to back away and began throwing things at her to keep her back when Zurcher-Wood threatened them with weapons and used racial slurs.
"It's scary when you have a family and you just want to enjoy a day," said Shanay Grant, whose friend Alex is the 6-year-old's mother. Grant was with them during the incident.
"Alex threw her pizza just to say — get away from me, get away from me and my son. This is my child, it's not your child," recalled Grant. "At that point [Zurcher-Wood] pulled out the machete, used some racial slurs — 'Run, n-word, run. I'm gonna kill you guys.'"
Eventually Zurcher-Wood fled the scene. However, police caught up with her near Southwest First Avenue and Southwest Ankeny Street. She cooperated and was arrested. Police found a machete and an ax in her possession, which were taken as evidence.