Police: Man arrested after trying to kidnap girl in Coeur d’Alene

COEUR d’ALENE — A man is in jail after he allegedly tried to kidnap a girl Tuesday evening, according to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.

Peter L. Cahoon, 33, is charged with attempted second-degree kidnapping, malicious injury to property, disturbing the peace and obstructing/resisting an officer. Police described Cahoon as a “transient” from Oklahoma who recently arrived in the Coeur d’Alene area.

Police responded around 6 p.m. to the St. Vincent de Paul HELP Center for an attempted kidnapping call. A man told police he and his daughter were in his vehicle in the parking lot when a man, later identified by police as Cahoon, approached them and began asking questions.

“Cahoon suddenly tried to pull the girl out of the car through the open window,” said a news release issued by the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.

When the man backed the vehicle up, Cahoon allegedly jumped on the hood and tried to open the girl’s door. The man reportedly called 911 and Cahoon walked away from the parking lot. Surveillance footage confirmed the man’s account of what happened, police said.

Police located Cahoon several blocks away.

“Cahoon seemed to be suffering from mental health issues and made statements about trying to save the girl,” the news release said.