Cambridge man charged with kidnapping two young girls

A man was arrested Saturday on kidnapping charges stemming from an incident involving two young girls Wednesday, Cambridge police said.

Lionel Ivan Brathwaite Jr., 52, of Cambridge was arrested by cops early Saturday morning in the Central Square area.

Cambridge police said the man, believed to be homeless, was wanted on two counts of kidnapping.

Brathwaite is said to have approached two preteen sisters who were walking home Thursday in the area of Pleasant and Auburn streets to ask them for directions.

One of the sisters said the suspect grabbed her by the arm and walked her and her sister down several streets, police said.

After stopping in the area of Salem Street, Brathwaite allegedly asked them if they wanted to go down an alley with him and the sisters said no, authorities said.

The sisters say he then apologized and removed his hands from one of the sisters, causing them to run in the direction of their home.

Both sisters told cops that the suspect smelled of alcohol and was wearing a black jacket and beanie hat at the time of the incident.

Brathwaite was arrested about 7:25 a.m. Saturday.

Cambridge police are also investigating a separate incident in which an unknown man followed a 17-year-old girl home from Central Square early this month.