Mother and child escape kidnapper in Augusta - WFXG FOX54 Augusta - Your News One Hour Earlier

An Augusta woman and her child are safe today following a scary incident Wednesday night.

Investigators say around 10:45 Wednesday night the mother of a two year old child was getting gas at the Kangaroo gas station on Jones Street when a suspect approached her and kidnapped her and her child at knife point. 

Officials say the suspect held the knife to the mother's throat and then the child's throat and said he would kill them both if the mother did not cooperate. 

The mother was then forced to drive her truck, while he attempted to sexually assault her.  While driving on the 1600 block of Hicks Street, the victim saw a car pulling into a driveway and slammed on brakes and began to scream for help. The mother began to struggle with the suspect, who punched her in the face, while screaming for the bystander to get her baby. 

The bystander was able to pull the child from the vehicle and the mother was able to break free from the suspect and exit the vehicle.  The suspect fled in the truck, but lost control on Tuttle Street and eventually struck a parked car.  He tried to run but was chased down by three men who held him until deputies arrived. 

Leonard Sapp of Augusta is now being held at the Richmond County Jail on two counts of Kidnapping, one count of Carjacking, one count of Possession of a Knife During the Commission of a Crime and Criminal Attempt Rape.  Sapp has an extensive arrest record with convictions including Burglary and Criminal Domestic Violence of a High and Aggravated Nature. 

Both mother and child escaped with superficial injuries.