BREMEN, Ga. (WXIA) -- A second grader who fought off a would-be kidnapper will speak to her classmates about her daring escape.
Seven-year-old Brittney Baxter is scheduled to speak to an assembly at Tallapoosa Primary School on Friday morning, two days after she escaped the clutches of a stranger who tried to snatch her while inside the Breman Walmart.
"I think she was very brave," said schoolmate Molly Roberts. "I would have done the same thing."
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Store surveillance video shows Brittney kicking and screaming as a stranger grabs her and walks down an aisle. The suspect walks a short distance then drops the 7-year-old and flees.
A surveillance camera captured the suspect's car as he fled the store. Thomas Andrew Woods was stopped and arrested in nearby Tallapoosa. Woods was released from prison in October of last year after serving time for voluntary manslaughter. He was on probation at the time of the incident at the Walmart.
Woods is facing numerous charges, including kidnapping, cruelty to children, simple assault, and possession of marijuana. He is scheduled for an initial appearance in a Haralson County courtroom Friday morning.
Just last month, a school counselor spoke to Brittney Baxter and her schoolmates about what they should do when approached by a stranger.
"She did exactly what she was supposed to do," said counselor Emily Altman. "She applied those rules to the situation perfectly. It was text book."
Schoolmates say Brittney is a quiet student, but they're not surprised the 7-year-old reacted the way she did.
"I would kick and scream and scratch until he dropped me just like he dropped Brittney," said second grader Roberts. "It could happen to anybody any day."
Brittney's second grade teacher said it's nice to know the children are listening.
"The students in my classroom were upset about it, then they started talking about the things they would do," said teacher Mallory McSwain. "It became real to them. It will make a difference."
Brittney's mother says she had talked to the child about what to do if a stranger ever approached, and so had the 7-year-old's big brother who is a soldier stationed at Ft. Benning.