Frantic Mother Bites Man As He Tried to Snatch Baby from Car Seat, Police Say

Gwinnett Police have arrested a man for allegedly trying to abduct a baby after her mother had buckled her into her car seat in a McDonald’s parking lot.

Police say Sterlyn Eugene Reynolds, 19, also bit a family member during the struggle for the baby. The 10-month-old girl suffered minor injuries to her arms and neck, but was otherwise OK.

The mother, who bit the suspect to free the baby, was able to get her out of the car and take her safely into the restaurant, police said

The incident happened around 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9 at the McDonald’s location on McDonough Drive, near Jimmy Carter Boulevard and I-85 in unincorporated Norcross.

Reynolds, who is listed as a Dacula resident in jail records, has been charged with kidnapping and first-degree cruelty to children. He is being held without bond.

Police said the mother and the family member do not know the suspect and his motive was unclear.

The mother told police she noticed Reynolds standing beside her vehicle before going into the restaurant. While inside, she said he also sat at a table nearby while they were eating.

As they were preparing to leave, the mother said she buckled the baby into the car seat, and while she was going to the driver’s door, Reynolds allegedly opened the door next to the seated baby, Gwinnett Police Public Information Officer Cpl. Michele Pihera said in a news release:

The suspect began unbuckling the baby and was beginning to pull the baby out of the car seat. The family member ran to the suspect and began to struggle with him in an attempt to stop the abduction. During the struggle, the suspect bit the family member. The mother began hitting the suspect from inside the vehicle while holding the baby down. The mother bit the suspect on his arm, grabbed her baby, and ran back inside the restaurant. The baby suffered minor injuries to her arms and neck.

Witnesses provided a detailed description of Reynolds, who was found and apprehended at a hotel nearby.

Photo: Sterlyn Eugene Reynolds. Gwinnett County Jail mug shot