Suspect arrested in connection with possible child abduction attempt in Belmont

BELMONT, N.C. — A man has been arrested in connection with a possible child abduction attempt that happened Monday in Belmont.

Detectives said just before 7 p.m. that day, they were called to the intersection of Wilkinson Boulevard and Park Street.

The victim’s mother, Sara Ramsey, told police they were on Park Street waiting for the light to turn green when a man began to walk toward her car. He then walked to the passenger side, where the child was sitting with her window down.

Police said the suspect grabbed the juvenile’s arm and tried to pull her out.

“The way he came, it’s almost like he snuck up and got against the side because he reached in and I didn’t see his face or torso. I only saw his arm,” Ramsey told Channel 9. “He reached in and grabbed her arm. Then after I got him off her arm, he went towards her waist and stomach. I don’t know if he was just grabbing there or trying to undo the buckle itself.”

Ramsey said she then began to fight off the man before driving away and calling Belmont police.

“It was really scary,” Ramsey’s daughter said.

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The suspect was identified as Joshua Pelzer. He was taken into custody shortly before 6:30 p.m.

Pelzer is facing attempted kidnapping, assault of a female and breaking and entering a motor vehicle charges, according to the Belmont Police Department.

He has been booked into the Gaston County Jail and his bond has been set at $1,000,000.

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