AMHERST, NY -An Amherst man has been arrested and charged for abducting his own 4-year-old child during a supervised visit in March. The child has since been returned to the rightful legal custodian.
According to Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 22-year-old Shaland S. Souverain, also known as Souverain Shaland, of Amherst was arraigned last week before State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges.
“It is alleged that on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at approximately 11:01 a.m., the defendant, who was scheduled for a supervised visit, abducted his own 4-year-old child from the Erie County Department of Social Services office on Union Road in the Town of Cheektowaga. The defendant allegedly committed the crime while knowingly in violation of an existing order of protection,” D.A. Flynn’s office said. “A Child Protective Services (CPS) employee allegedly chased after the defendant as he exited the building with the child. When the CPS worker attempted to stop the defendant from leaving, the defendant allegedly pushed the CPS employee to the ground as he entered his own vehicle with the child. It is further alleged that the CPS worker got up and attempted to stop the defendant from leaving by standing behind the defendant’s vehicle. It is further alleged that the defendant assaulted the CPS employee by hitting the victim with his vehicle as he fled the scene. The employee was taken by ambulance to ECMC to be treated for injuries to his arm and side of his body.”
The defendant was located by police at his apartment on the 200 block of Travers Circle in the Town of Amherst. He was taken into custody without incident after a nearly 5-hour standoff with law enforcement. The child was found uninjured and returned to the custody of Erie County Child Protective Services.