Reduced Bond Denied In Waukesha Baby Kidnapping Case

WAUKESHA, WI— A woman charged with kidnapping a baby in Waukesha was denied to have her $30,000 bail lowered. Sharmika R. Hickles appeared in court on Wednesday via Zoom. The judge ruled against Hickles, out of concern she is a flight risk.

Sharmika R. Hickles, 31, was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court with kidnapping, child abuse, battery, three counts of bail jumping, and disorderly conduct. Hickles' attorney entered a not guilty plea and requested an examination. Her next court date if for a review hearing on Nov. 25, according to online court records.

The City of Waukesha Police Department is holding a Citizen Service Award Presentation at 10 a.m. on Thursday. The presentation will recognize four citizens for their recent efforts. Among the recipients, are the two people who helped save the baby.

On Aug. 28, Shemicka Free and her daughter Lashenae Clark of Waukesha were driving in the area of Manhattan Drive and East Moreland Blvd. when they noticed two women standing near the bus stop. As they got closer, they observed one woman reach down and remove a baby from the stroller which was being pushed by the other person, according to a police news release.

The apparent mother then chased the suspect who was holding the baby. The mother was in distress and grabbed the baby telling the suspect to "Give me my baby" and was calling out for help, the release said.

Free and Clark witnessed the two women struggle over the child and the mother got her child back and fell to the ground to protect the child.

Free and Clark quickly intervened as the suspect was now hitting the mother who was protecting the baby. They tried to figure out who the baby belonged to as the suspect was attempting to pull the baby's arm to free him from the mother. They believed the baby belonged to the mother and called 911, the release said.

The mother was able to get up and walk toward the nearby daycare center with the child as the suspect followed her and was continually attacking, hitting, and punching her.
Due to the woman's continued physical assault, the mother was unable to get the baby into the daycare center safely which led Free to grab the baby to keep the baby safe, the release said.

The suspect started to go after Clark and Free stepped in between to protect herself, her daughter, and the baby. Officers arrived a short time later and determined the suspect was suffering from mental health issues and had attempted to kidnap the child believing it was her child, the release said.

"Both Shemicka Free and Lashenae Clark did not hesitate to intervene, putting themselves in harm's way, into an unknown physical fight, in an attempt to save the child and their mother," the release said.