Man Arraigned in Day Care Kidnapping Attempt

A man visiting from Brazil was in court Wednesday after authorities say he tried to kidnap a child from a day care in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Family of 38-year-old Sandro Corbelli were in the court, shocked as prosecutors read the charges.

"When he came here, he seemed a little distraught. Even seeing him in there now, it doesn't even look like him."

"I'm really sorry about everything that happened," a cousin of Corbelli, who did not want to be identified, said through tears.

Tuesday morning, the suspect allegedly forced his way into an in-house Somerville day care. Prosecutors say he struck one of the employees before saying he was a terrorist, wanting money, and then trying to abduct a child.

Dramatic video captured by phone showed Corbelli being subdued by officiers. In court, he could be seen shaking and looking in a daze. His cousin told necn he's never mentioned needing money and doesn't believe he was on medication, leaving the family confused about the allegations.

"Shock - absolute shock - because we wasn't expecting this," said Corbelli's cousin.

The judge sent Corbelli to Bridgewater Hospital for psychiatric evaluation. After injuring a day care employee and a Somerville officer, his cousin wants him to receive the treatment.

"He definitely needs some sort of help, and whatever they can do to help him out, just so that he can go back home and provide for his family," she said.

None of the children were injured in the alleged attempted abduction.

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