On April 8 at about 7 pm, state troopers were notified of multiple 911 calls about a male attempting to take a baby away from a female on the side of the road along VT-109 in Belvidere, police say.

Troopers responded with Lamoille County Sheriff’s Deputies and located the male next to a vehicle parked on the side of VT-109 in Belvidere. He was identified as Richard Spitzer (age 27) of Hyde Park. The female and the baby were found to be safe in the vehicle of good Samaritans who lived nearby the scene of the incident.

Investigation determined that a verbal dispute occurred between Spitzer and the victim while they were in their vehicle. This led to him exiting the vehicle and attempting to gain access to the female who was in the driver’s seat by kicking in the window. He then gained access to the backseat of the vehicle and took the victim’s baby, who Spitzer is not related to, and fled across the road into the woods while making multiple threatening statements.

During this incident Spitzer took the victim’s cellphone when she attempted to call 911, broke the car’s key off in the ignition, and struck her several times. Prior to law enforcement arrival on scene Spitzer ultimately returned the baby to the victim.

Spitzer was charged with Kidnapping, Domestic Assault, Unlawful Mischief, Interference With Access to Emergency Services, Aggravated Disorderly Conduct, Offenses Committed in the Presence of a Child, and Criminal Threatening.

Spitzer was arrested without incident and transported to the Williston State Police Barracks for processing. At the conclusion of processing and per order of the court, Spitzer was lodged at Northwest State Correctional Facility for lack of $1,000 bail imposed by the court. He is due to appear before Lamoille County Superior Court on April 9 at 1230 hours.