Bristol Man Accused In Attempted Kidnapping Of 2 Girls: Police

BRISTOL, CT — A city man has been accused of attempting to kidnap two young girls at a Dollar Tree store back in January.

On Friday, police charged Robert Darche, 66, of Sheila Court, on a warrant with second-degree attempted kidnapping.

The charge stems from an incident on Jan. 11 at the Dollar Tree on Farmington Avenue.

Two girls, aged 10 and 11, told their parents a man showed them money and asked them to follow him to his vehicle in the parking lot, according to police. The man left the store after the girls ran away from him.

Police obtained footage of the suspect’s vehicle, which only allowed them to determine the color and make, police said. The following week, an officer spotted a vehicle being driven in another town which had a unique decal similar to one believed to be on the suspect’s vehicle, according to police.

Police then were able to identify Darche as the owner of the vehicle. Police said they subsequently connected Darche to the January incident, as they said he was captured on surveillance footage following and then approaching the girls inside the store after they left their parents to look at toys.

Darche was held over the weekend on $150,000 bond and is due to be arraigned Monday in Superior Court.