AUSTIN, Indiana — A southern Indiana elementary school is reassessing some of its policies after a child was abducted from the school's playground.
On Monday, Austin Elementary School officials said in a letter to parents that a woman walked onto the school's playground and "left with a child."
Superintendent Trevor Jones said the woman, identified by police records as 34-year-old Brittany Hurtt, went over the playground's fence and picked up a child. He said she was not related to any child on the playground.
School administrators, the school resource officer, and local law enforcement responded quickly and the child was returned to the elementary school unharmed within minutes, according to the letter sent to parents.
"It's very scary, it was a bad afternoon," Jones said. "It's a shame that our kids can't feel safe at recess."
WHAS11 News spoke with the prosecuting attorney Tuesday.
"From the moment we got the charges this morning we have been working diligently to file every count that we could," attorney Chris Owens said. "I've never seen a case like this."
If convicted on each charge, Hurtt faces a maximum sentence of nearly 30 years.
"We are going to see to it that she is in a place where she gets the help and treatment that she needs but also in a place where she can't do this to other people in the foreseeable future," Owens said.
According to Hurtt's probable cause affidavit, police were notified that a woman had abducted an 8-year-old child from the playground around noon.
Minutes later, the woman's husband flagged down police with the young girl in the front seat of his vehicle. He told authorities his wife had shown up at their house with a child that was not theirs.
The child was taken back to the school where she told police the woman had grabbed her hand and taken her to the playground's fence before pushing her over and walking her away from school property.
In the affidavit, another young girl, 7, told police Hurtt had tried to grab her hand and told her: "Come with me, let's start a family." The child was able to get free and run away.
Police say Hurtt's actions were caught on school surveillance video.
After giving the child back to police, Hurtt's husband said his wife had "taken all of her clothes off and was now running in the street on Mann Avenue."
In the affidavit, police say they observed Hurtt running in the street nude carrying two white trash bags. As police approached her, she ran away.
Police were able to cut her off with their vehicle and when officers exited the car, she allegedly "struck the vehicle and tried to yank the door open."
The affidavit said as police were trying to get her into the back of the cruiser, Hurtt began kicking her feet and kicked an officer in the chest.
She continued to kick and yell inside the vehicle and refused to allow anyone to put clothes on her, police say.
When EMS arrived, officers attempted to help restrain her on a gurney for medical transport. Still, Hurtt allegedly began kicking again, this time kicking a police major's right hand "causing a red scratch mark."
Court documents say Hurtt was making statements about God and "how the children were being taught by computers and all the children needed to die."
Hurtt was taken to the hospital and health officials said she "knew she was under arrest because she kidnapped a kid."
Once she was cleared by medical staff, she was taken to Scott County Jail.
Hurtt is charged with kidnapping, public nudity, criminal trespassing, resisting law enforcement, and battery resulting in the bodily injury of a public safety official.
It's unclear if there were any school staff on the playground at the time of this incident, however, school officials said they are looking to ensure this doesn't happen again.
"Austin Elementary is reassessing playground protocols to increase security and safety for students," Principal Beverly Turner said.
Additional resources and counselors were made available for students on Tuesday.
Hurtt's bond has been set at $7,500 cash in full. A jury trial is set for March 20 at 9 a.m.
Superintendent Jones said students at Austin Elementary likely will not return to recess on the playground until the second week of January. He added they hope to make a final decision on new safety procedures on Wednesday.
In the meantime, Jones is praising a young hero. He said Hurtt first tried to grab another young girl by the arm. That girl removed her jacket to get away from the woman and ran to find a teacher to help. Jones said her fast action helped bring a quick closure to the incident.
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