Police: Elderly man attempted to kidnap woman

BRAINTREE, Mass. (WHDH) -- An elderly man was arrested for trying to kidnap a woman walking her dog in Braintree Tuesday afternoon, police say.

The woman told police the man pretended he was lost and asked for directions. She said he then tried to pull her into his car.

Carl Comstock, 72, of Fall River was arrested on Tuesday evening after the woman was able to give police his license plate number.

In court on Wednesday, Comstock pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and battery and attempting to commit a crime.

A 911 call from the woman describes the man as “crazy gray hair,” who tried to pull her into his black Hyundai when she stopped to help him with his GPS.

“He told me he needed help with his navigation,” the woman said to a 911 dispatcher. “I told him I would help but I would stand back and then I reached out to get it and he tried to grab my arm.”

The 27-year-old woman said it happened when she was walking her dog on River Street in Braintree.

“The defendant then grabbed a hold of her right arm and stated, ‘Get in the car,’” said Adam Lally, prosecutor.

Police say the woman was able to pull herself away, with the help of her dog.

“Her dog jumped up on the door…He started barking at the individual and that scared him off. He drove away,” said Deputy Chief Russell Jenkins, Braintree Police Department.

Police arrested Comstock in Quincy a short time later.

Comstock’s defense attorney says he’s innocent.

“He was lost. He wasn’t able to use his GPS, it was a new one to him. He asked the woman to put in the address that he was going to in Quincy. She did, she handed it back to him and he left. That’s all that happened,” said Joseph Rosa, defense attorney.

Police say Comstock is already known to them.

Comstock is being held without bail until his dangerousness hearing on Thursday.