NEW HANOVER COUNTY — The court has ordered a 44-year-old man to have a psychiatric evaluation to determine his capacity to proceed in a case that involves an attempted abduction of a 7-year-old.
Daniel Jason Summers appeared virtually in New Hanover County district court Tuesday after being charged with felony second-degree kidnapping, misdemeanor assault on a child under 12, and misdemeanor assault resist/delay/obstruct public officers.
READ MORE: Man arrested for tackling, trying to abduct 7-year-old on downtown street
The suspect’s attorney, John Phillips, told Judge Melinda Crouch he met with Summers’ family and his client, after the family contacted him about the case. He reviewed video footage and spoke with various relatives at length, and said “without going into details” he wasn’t confident in the suspect’s mental capacity to proceed without examination. Phillips made a motion for the court to order one, with which the state agreed.
Summers, appearing exasperated and incoherent, had to be restrained by multiple officers at the detention center during his virtual hearing. He kicked at law enforcement and eventually had a spit guard placed over his mouth.
The judge barely was able to get through the charges and sentences they carry without interference. If found guilty, Summers could serve up to 88 months imprisonment for felony second-degree kidnapping, with misdemeanor assault on a child under 12 drawing a 150-day jail sentence. Misdemeanor assault resist/delay/obstruct public officers brings up to 60 days in jail.
On Friday, Jan. 2, around 5:30 p.m., Summers, who lives in Wrightsville Beach, was arrested after officers were called to 9 N. Front St. in downtown Wilmington. They arrived as Summers was being held by another male. According to WPD, Summers tackled a 7-year-old girl, whose father and a passerby attempted to pull Summers from her. She managed to crawl out from underneath Summers amid the struggle.
Police said the parties didn’t know one another as the family was visiting from out of town.
Summers, who hasn’t had prior offenses, was arrested and held without bond. Crouch determined, based on what she observed and the recommendations from the state and defendant’s counsel, that Summers be sent for evaluation to the Central Regional Hospital, a state-run psychiatric facility.
Crouch also issued no bond Tuesday and did not authorize Summers’ release, due to the seriousness of the allegations. His next court date is Jan. 22.
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