CHICOPEE, Mass. (AP) – A 16-year-old Salvation Army bell ringer was credited with helping to subdue a man who allegedly tried to kidnap two children at a Wal-Mart in Chicopee.

Police said Mark Klimek, 32, first tried to kidnap a 10-month-old inside the store, and then allegedly grabbed a 4-year-old boy in the parking lot, Lt. Thomas Charette said.

The incident occurred Thursday night. A mother said she was seated, with her infant, near the front of the store when Klimek approached her.

“He snatched the baby,” Charette said. “She grabbed him and started kicking and punching. She got the baby back.”

Klimek allegedly left, and approached a mother and her two children. The first mother called out to warn her. The second mother then fought off Klimek as he tried to pull the 4-year-old boy away, police said.

Bell ringer Francisco Rodriguez saw the commotion, ran over, and “jumped in and got involved,” Charette said. He helped detain Klimek until police arrived.

Klimek, of Holyoke, has pleaded innocent to two counts of kidnapping and two counts of assault and battery. He’s being held without bail while he undergoes an evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital, Charette said.

AP-ES-12-18-05 2317EST