Man Who Grabbed Toddler At YMCA Has Lengthy History Of Mental Illness
LOWELL (CBS) – A man accused of grabbing a young boy at a YMCA on Tuesday has a lengthy history of mental illness.
John DaSilva, 21, was arrested for allegedly trying kidnap a 2-year-old girl at the YMCA in Lowell Tuesday night.
Wednesday he appeared in court on charges of attempted kidnapping, assault and battery on a child, and assault and battery.
DaSilva has been committed for mental evaluation nine times in the last 18 months.
The judge ordered DaSilva undergo a mental evaluation and be held on $25,000 cash bail. He also has pending larceny and robbery charges against him in previous cases.
As he was being escorted from the courtroom, DaSilva cursed at bailiffs, WBZ-TV's Ken MacLeod reported.
Police say a mother was sitting with her child after a swimming class at the YMCA around 6 p.m. on Tuesday when DaSilva approached the toddler, tugging on her arm.
The mother saw this and tried to stop the man. That's when DaSilva allegedly insisted the child belonged to him and tried to take him.
"I think he's not normal," the girl's mother told MacLeod, asking that her name not be revealed for fear of her family's safety.
"When I said somebody help me please I need help, he went for the gym. But he came back and tried again."
Staff responded immediately by calling 911. DaSilva was arrested and escorted out in handcuffs moments later after officers found him watching basketball in the gym.
"They did exactly what they were supposed to do by calling the police because you never know exactly how a situation might unfold," YMCA CEO Ray Adams said, talking about his staff and the mother of the young boy.
Adams said the suspect seemed disoriented. DaSilva was a member at the YMCA with his grandfather and Adams said they've never had issues with him in the past.
The toddler's mother regularly attends classes at the YMCA, and Adams said he hopes she still feels comfortable returning.
"I believe by the time the mother left she made a comment that she felt sorry for him he appeared disoriented and she didn't want him to get into trouble," Adams said.