SUSPECT ARRESTED ON KIDNAPPING, WEAPONS, BIAS CHARGES

Portland Police Bureau

A woman is facing charges after attempting to kidnap a 6-year-old boy, then threatening his family with bladed weapons and using racial slurs.

On Sunday, August 22, 2021 at 3:43p.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 and used racial slurs. The suspect then ran off.

Officers booked Elizabeth A. Zurcher-Wood, 37, into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of Kidnapping in the Second Degree, Bias Crime in the Second Degree (3 counts), Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, and Menacing.