By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Police said a woman accused of trying to abduct three children in a Salisbury neighborhood last week has been charged.
Thelma Kollie, of West D Avenue, was charged with three counts of felony kidnapping and one count of misdemeanor assault on a minor.
She was released after posting a $5,000 bond.
According to a Salisbury Police report, Kollie pulled up in a Jeep Liberty in the 600 block of Linn Lane off Wilkesboro Road about 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Neighbors told police Kollie picked up two children playing in the front yard and carried them about 100 yards back to the Jeep.
She placed one in the driver’s seat and tried to put the second child in the passenger seat, the report said, but the child’s screams alerted neighbors.
Residents in the area came out to check on the situation, authorities said. But when they did, neighbors said the 37-year-old grabbed a toddler from the arms of an 11-year-old.
The 11-year-old was shoved as parents of the two struggled to bring the toddler to safety.
Police obtained warrants for kidnapping on Kollie, but she was taken to Rowan Regional Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation.
She was taken into custody following her release.