By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

A Saco man was arrested for the attempted abduction of a 3-year-old boy from an Old Orchard Beach campground.  

Old Orchard Beach Deputy Police Chief Keith Babin said Eric Auger, 37, of Saco was arrested on a felony charge of criminal restraint shortly after the June 22 attempted abduction. 

Babin said the mother of the child said she and her husband were sitting on a picnic table at Vacancy Pub Cabins on Ocean Park Road while their son was playing nearby in a grassy area. They noticed a man standing by the road as if waiting for a bus appeared to be watching their child play, he said.

The mother told police the man walked over to her son, picked him up and started to run away with him, Babin said. The father was able to catch up with Auger and pull his son away. The two men then got into a confrontation but Auger was able to break loose and run off, Babin said. 

The father attempted to follow Auger but quickly lost sight of him. An officer spotted Auger a short time later on Ocean Park Road, Babin said. 

Babin said the child was not injured during the incident. The child’s mother told police she had seen Auger in the area for several days, he said. 

The child and his family were not identified by police.

Auger’s criminal record includes obstructing government administration, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, reckless conduct, operating under the influence, obstructing a public way and violation of conditions of release, Babin said.

Auger remains in custody at York County Jail.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.