CENTREVILLE — A Church Hill woman was arrested for attempted kidnapping on the opening night of the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Fair in Centreville on Aug. 11.
At approximately 6 p.m., deputies from the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office responded after being alerted to the incident. According to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office, theirs and the Queen Anne’s County Fair Board’s emergency response plan were immediately activated, and deputies quickly saturated the area.
According to authorities, a family member and bystanders intervened to prevent the suspect from fleeing the scene before law enforcement arrived. Attendees, a family member of the child, bystanders, and 4-H Fair employees all played a key role in stopping the suspect and ensuring the child’s safety. The attempt was random, and the child was not known to the suspect, police confirmed.
Witnesses identified Alexandra Kay Dawson, 28, of Church Hill, as the primary suspect in the alleged kidnapping attempt. Three other individuals who had been with Dawson during the event were detained as persons of interest but were later released without charges after investigators confirmed their lack of involvement in the incident.
The Queen Anne’s County Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate unverified claims of unwanted contact with children at the fair. While there is no confirmation of additional incidents, the Sheriff’s Office is exercising caution as the investigation remains active. Authorities are encouraging anyone with information to come forward.
Sheriff Gary Hofmann praised the quick action of the community in preventing further harm. “The quick thinking and immediate actions of the child’s family, community members, and fair staff, combined with the pre-coordinated safeguards and emergency response protocols, allowed our deputies to respond within moments,” Hofmann said. “Thanks to the strong community partnership and preparedness, we were able to bring the situation to a safe and timely resolution, ensuring the safety and security of everyone involved.”
Dawson faces the following charges:
Kidnapping (child under 16)
Second-degree assault
Disorderly conduct
As with all legal proceedings, all subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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