PORTLAND, OR - The Portland Police Bureau is reporting that on Sunday, August 22, 2021 at 3:43 P.M., Central Precinct officers were dispatched to the area of Southwest 3rd Avenue and West Burnside Street on a report of an attempted child kidnapping.
As officers responded, they were provided suspect information and that she was armed with bladed weapons.
The officers located the suspect at Southwest 1st Avenue and Southwest Ankeny Street. She cooperated with officers was arrested. She was in possession of a machete and an ax, which were seized as evidence.
Officers spoke with the caller and learned that she was with family waiting in line outside of a pizza restaurant when they were approached by the suspect, who tried to lunge at the 6-year-old boy saying she wanted to take him.
When the victims tried to back away, throwing things to keep her back, the suspect threatened them with the weapons (pictured) and used racial slurs.
The suspect then ran off.
Elizabeth A. Zurcher-Wood (right), 37 was charged with:
- Kidnapping in the Second Degree
- Bias Crime in the Second Degree (3 counts)
- Unlawful Use of a Weapon
- Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree
- Menacing
This individual was lodged in the Multnomah County Detention Center.
Photo of the accused courtesy of the Multnomah County Detention Center.
Photo of the bladed weapons attached.
