Man Tried To Kidnap Child At Mosque In Suffolk: Police

BAY SHORE, NY — A man was arrested in connection with trying to kidnap a child at a mosque in Bay Shore on Wednesday, Suffolk police said.

During a prayer service at Masjid Darul Quran, at 1514 East 3rd Avenue, Nelson Priester, 39, who is without a known address, led a 4-year-old boy away from the prayer hall into a basement kitchen and barricaded the door at approximately 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, police said.

A worshipper saw Priester take the boy and notified the child’s grandfather, police said. Multiple people then tried to gain entry to the kitchen through the door but were unable, police said. One person then climbed through a service window into the kitchen to reach the child, who was not injured, police said.

Priester was charged with second-degree attempted kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child, police said. He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday at First District Court in Central Islip.