Man broke into family’s home and ‘attempted to take a juvenile,’ NC sheriff says
A kidnapping was thwarted when someone discovered an intruder trying “to take a juvenile” out of their home, according to investigators in eastern North Carolina.
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“The dangerous and rapidly evolving situation” happened early Sunday at a home on U.S. 70 in the Bettie community, about a 155-mile drive southeast from downtown Raleigh.
The suspect has been identified as 55-year-old Leslie Paul Mason, the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office said in an Aug. 30 news release.
“According to the 911 caller, Mason entered the residence and attempted to take a juvenile outside the home. As Mason was exiting, the juvenile was able to get to safety and the juvenile’s guardian confronted Mason,” the sheriff’s office said.
“A struggle ensued between Mason and the guardian, during which the guardian was struck in the head with a cane. The guardian suffered a laceration that required medial treatment.”
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Deputies arrived and arrested Mason as he was attempting to leave the property in a vehicle, officials said.
He has been charged with first degree burglary, attempted kidnapping, and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, the sheriff’s office said.
Court records report Mason lives in Davis, about an 11-mile drive east from Bettie.
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Investigators did not report details of why the juvenile was targeted.
