CARLE PLACE, NY – A Queens woman was arrested Saturday afternoon after police said she fled with her young child during a supervised visitation at a Carle Place bookstore, according to the Nassau County Police Department.
Detectives assigned to the department’s Third Squad said the incident occurred at approximately 1:16 p.m. on January 17, 2026, at a Barnes & Noble located on Old Country Road. Investigators identified the suspect as Charlene Smith, 41, of Fresh Meadows, Queens.
Police said Smith was participating in a court-ordered supervised visitation with her 7-year-old child when she allegedly left the store and fled the location with the child in an unknown direction, prompting an immediate search.
Following an extensive investigation, the department’s Nassau County Police Aviation Unit deployed Helicopter 4, which located Smith and the child in the parking lot of Roosevelt Field Mall. Patrol units were directed to the scene, and Smith was taken into custody without incident.
Authorities said the child was transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation as a precaution. No injuries were reported.
Smith faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges and is scheduled to be arraigned Sunday at First District Court in Hempstead.
Key Facts and Details
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Charlene Smith |
| Age | 41 |
| Residence | Fresh Meadows, Queens |
| Child Involved | 7-year-old |
| Incident Location | Barnes & Noble, Old Country Road, Carle Place |
| Date & Time | January 17, 2026 – approximately 1:16 p.m. |
| Nature of Visit | Supervised visitation |
| Recovery Location | Roosevelt Field Mall parking lot |
| Assisting Unit | Nassau County Police Aviation Unit (Helicopter 4) |
| Arrest Outcome | Taken into custody without incident |
| Child Condition | Transported to hospital for evaluation; no injuries |
| Charges | Kidnapping (2nd Degree), Criminal Contempt (2nd Degree), Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Custodial Interference |
| Arraignment Date | January 18, 2026 |
| Court | First District Court, Hempstead |
| Investigating Unit | Nassau County Police Department – Third Squad |
