Mom: Son was running for life when he stole car

10/2/2001

Brenda Wells said yesterday that her son, Charles, was “running for his life” when he jumped into a car that contained a 5-month-old girl and fled a North Toledo neighborhood Friday.

“You'd do anything to save your life,” Ms. Wells said after her son, 31, was arraigned in Toledo Municipal Court.

Wells of 1223 Alldays Ave. was ordered held in the Lucas County jail in lieu of a $60,000 bond. He is charged with one count each of kidnapping, theft, and drug abuse.

He is accused of stealing a car from the 2100 block of Walnut Street, near Moore Street, about 9 p.m. Friday. The child, Tyra Robinson, was strapped to an infant carrier in the rear seat while her mother, Shyra Forille, 16, was standing on a porch picking up a cousin to go bowling with friends.

Wells reportedly later gave the child to two unidentified women, who returned the baby unharmed to authorities Saturday morning. He was arrested later in the day as he was getting into the car in front of 374 Weiler Ave. in the McClinton Nunn Homes.

Ms. Wells said her son was being chased by people with guns and knives. Detective Tim Campbell said he is investigating why Wells was fleeing from the group.

“He saw the car running, jumped in, and pulled away,” Ms. Wells said.

She said her son didn't know the child was in the back seat, but when he did, he even changed the girl's diaper. Two girls in the car with the baby said Wells forced them out, despite their pleas to let them remove the baby first.

Wells was released in August after serving more than a year in prison for failure to appear and forgery. He has been convicted of other offenses, including drug trafficking, records state.