COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — The Coeur d’Alene Police Department arrested a man at the St. Vincent de Paul Help Center (SVDP) after he allegedly attempted to kidnap a girl Tuesday night.
According to the department, a Richard Swigart and his daughter were sitting in their car in the Help Center’s parking lot on May 21.
“He [Swigart] was here with his daughter in the car. His mom…was going through one of our parent teaching classes,” Larry Riley, the Executive Director of SVDP Help Center, said.
The 33-year-old suspect, Peter Cahoon, approached the vehicle. He began asking Swigart and his daughter questions, making Swigart nervous.
Police report that Cahoon is a transient from Oklahoma.
“I understand he may have been in the area a couple, [or] three days,” Riley said.
Suddenly, Cahoon attempted to pull the girl out of the open car window, then Swigart backed the car up.
Police claim Cahoon jumped on the car’s hood as Swigart tried to drive away and continued to attempt to open the door when he slid off and the car pulled away.
Swigart was able to drive forward and get away. He quickly called 911.
Coeur d’Alene officers found Cahoon several blocks away from where the indecent occurred.
“Cahoon seemed to be suffering from mental health issues and made statements about trying to save the girl,” the department said.
Cahoon was charged with attempted second-degree kidnapping, battery, malicious injury to property, disturbing the peace and obstructing and resisting an officer. He was booked into the Kootenai County Jail and had his first appearance in court Wednesday.
