8 May 2012

Man charged after baby taken in Nelson

5:13 am on 8 May 2012

Police have arrested a man they say abducted a baby and fled in a stolen car.

They say the man took the 20-month-old and the car from a home in Nelson about 1.30pm on Monday after an episode of family violence.

Police say they started chasing the man in Stoke when he failed to stop for officers, but say the pursuit was called off after a short time.

Later in the afternoon, the man was seen parked at Appleby, on the outskirts of Nelson, where an officer convinced him to hand the baby over.

Police say he fled again, but was spotted in the suburb of Hope about 4pm. Road spikes were used to catch him.

The man will appear in Nelson District Court on Tuesday on abduction and assault charges.