National Police clarifies incident in Guaymate: there was no kidnapping attempt

Guaymate, La Romana. – The National Police reported that it clarified an incident that occurred in the La Palma sector of the municipality of Guaymate, which generated alarm among community members after the erroneous belief that a woman was trying to kidnap a minor at the exit of an educational center. The incident was recorded in the afternoon, on José Francisco Peña Gómez street, when Mrs. Ginet Adalkiris Quezada Martínez, 36 years old, took the hands of a seven-year-old boy as he was leaving the public school Iscayagua Nueva, which caused concern among those present. Faced with the situation, several community members detained the woman until the authorities arrived. Members of the Division of Crimes and Offenses Against Persons, along with operational personnel, went to the scene, who transferred the woman to the corresponding detachment for verification and investigation purposes, under the supervision of the Public Ministry.

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After the investigations carried out, the authorities determined that there was no kidnapping attempt. It was established that the woman suffers from a mental health condition and that she had confused the minor with one of her children, due to physical and age similarities. Family members reported that Quezada Martínez has a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder and has been receiving specialized medical treatment since 2009, information that was duly supported by a medical certification presented to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The minor’s mother confirmed to the authorities that, after speaking with the woman, she was able to verify that there was no criminal intent, but rather a confusion stemming from her mental health condition. As part of the protocol, the Public Ministry summoned the minor’s mother and the school’s doorman for formal interviews, while the child will be evaluated by a psychologist from the specialized unit. The National Police reiterated its commitment to the protection of children and the responsible management of situations that may generate social alarm.