The Massachusetts man charged with the alleged kidnapping and assault of a 6-year-old girl Friday night in Brockton, is due to be arraigned.
Avery Howard, 32, of Brockton, was charged with kidnapping and assault and battery after a missing 6-year-old girl was found with him hours earlier.
The girl, who's name has not been released, disappeared from Norton and was found safe in nearby Easton after a search that lasted several hours.
According to Norton police, the girl went missing in the area of East Main Street near the Easton line around 12:15 p.m. on Friday.
She was first seen on her own with a small pink suitcase. After, she was spotted in the area of Shaws Supermarket on Depot Street in Easton.
Norton police later received two tips that a child had gotten into a car with a man in the area of 792 Foundry St. around 11:45 a.m.
The child's description matched that of the missing girl.
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"We rallied up detectives and officers and began to canvass that area. At approximately 2:45 p.m. as we were canvassing that area, a suspect vehicle came to the area we were [in]," Norton Police Chief Brian Clark said.
A detective stopped the vehicle, being driven by Howard, and found the missing child in the front seat.
Police detained Howard and later charged him.
He is due to be arraigned in Taunton District Court.
