Idaho Falls, ID – A Idaho woman reported a man attempting to kidnap her infant by taking her shopping cart. Michael Garrison Raine, 24, is charged with second-degree kidnapping and was released on $5,000 bail on November 28.
On November 20, Raine was captured on surveillance video at the Costco warehouse in Idaho Falls after the woman claimed he walked away with the cart containing her 4-week-old baby. The woman stated the cart was unattended but within her sight when she felt compelled to check on it.
When she turned around, she found the cart missing and began searching the store, later discovering it being pushed by Raine in a different aisle. He allegedly apologized, promising he would not do it again.
The woman filed a report with the Idaho Falls Police Department on November 25. Investigators reviewed surveillance footage showing Raine entering the store, taking a shopping cart, and approaching the book section where the incident occurred.
According to court documents, Raine was seen opening a book and smelling its pages before grabbing the cart with the baby and attempting to push it away. He later used the self-checkout and ate at the food court before leaving.
Police determined Raine was using a Costco membership registered to his roommate at Brigham Young University – Idaho Falls, where he is an enrolled student. An investigation later linked Raine’s vehicle to a nearby Marine Corps recruiting station.
On November 26, detectives detained Raine for questioning at the recruiting station regarding the incident. When asked about Costco, he initially said nothing out of the ordinary occurred.
After being reminded of the incident, Raine acknowledged it, stating he mistakenly took the wrong cart. He claimed he thought he had grabbed his empty cart and did not realize it contained a baby until confronted.
Raine expressed regret for the mistake but did not acknowledge an intention to commit kidnapping. He was charged with second-degree kidnapping and booked into the Bonneville County Jail on a $15,000 bond, which was later reduced to $5,000.
He was released and is scheduled for a court appearance on December 10.
