- February 5, 2025
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A Port Orange woman is facing charges after appearing to attempt to abduct two children at Toronita Avenue Beach Park in Wilbur-by-the-Sea, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
Sarah Freeman, 34, of Port Orange, was arrested Monday, June 25, the same day as the incident, after two parents reported they had to pull their kids away from her.
The first parent whose child was approached by Freeman told deputies Freeman said something along the lines of "this isn’t a Florida trip you’re going to want to remember” and grabbed her 7-year-old daughter by the towel she was wearing. The mom, who is also six months pregnant, reacted quickly and pulled her daughter back, but Freeman hit her during the struggle.
Then Freeman went to another parent, who told deputies Freeman hit him in the backside with a stick and made a comment to the effect of "we don’t know you around here.”
She told his 5-year-old son that “it will be all right. He’s not your dad.” She then grabbed the child by the arm and started to walk away. The father intervened, got his son back and took him back to his truck, where Freeman tried to force her way in through a passenger window.
Another witness said Freeman then turned to her and said, “I’ll just take your kid, then.” That parent and her child went to their vehicle and locked their doors.
The witnesses were able to describe Freeman in detail to VCSO dispatchers, and she was taken into custody within minutes. Once in custody, she mumbled and made unintelligible statements to a deputy, who noticed she appeared to be under the influence of some unknown substance.
Freeman was charged with two counts of attempted kidnapping and one count each of aggravated battery on a pregnant victim, burglary of a conveyance and battery. She was being held without bond Monday evening at the Volusia County Branch Jail.
