SOMERVILLE — Just last week Sandro Corbelli arrived in Massachusetts from Brazil for a visit. His cousin said Corbelli “seemed a little distraught,” but nothing hinted at the dramatic turn his stay took Tuesday morning.
That’s when police and prosecutors say Corbelli, 38, broke into a home day-care on Dartmouth Street and attempted to kidnap a 1-year-old girl, telling workers he was a terrorist who needed a child and money to pay for a return trip to Brazil.
“Calm down. I’m a terrorist. I just want a child,” Corbelli said, according to a police report filed in Somerville District Court. He then grabbed a 1-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy, Somerville Police Deputy Chief Stephen Carrabino said.
The boy escaped, but the girl had to be freed by officers who wrestled Corbelli to the ground and pried her from the bear hug he was using to restrain her, Carrabino said.
On Wednesday, Corbelli appeared before Judge Maurice R. Flynn III, who ordered him to spend 20 days at Bridgewater State Hospital for a competency evaluation. Flynn ruled after hearing from Naomi Leavitt, a forensic psychologist who interviewed Corbelli. A Portuguese interpreter translated the proceedings for him.
Leavitt said Corbelli has a history of serious depression and may have delusional thoughts about recent events.
“Mr. Corbelli was difficult to talk to,” Leavitt said, as Corbelli stood shaking in the prisoner’s dock. “He seemed very confused.”
“He was intermittently sobbing, totally preoccupied with getting back to his family,” Leavitt added.
Corbelli’s defense lawyer, Jawara Griffin, and his cousin said Corbelli has no history of violent behavior. His cousin spoke to reporters after Corbelli’s court appearance but declined to give her name.
“There may have been a mental break that took place, which caused him to potentially do what he’s alleged to have done,” Griffin said.
Not-guilty pleas were entered on Corbelli’s behalf to charges including kidnapping, assault and battery on a police officer, and felony breaking and entering in the daytime. He is due back in court June 2.
According to police, Corbelli lives with his uncle in an apartment inside the same building as the day-care. Somerville officers have not had contact with Corbelli prior to Tuesday and found no evidence that he has ties to terrorism, Carrabino, the deputy chief, said.
Carrabiono said that at least five officers tried to subdue Corbelli after freeing the girl, but that he fought back, reaching for an officer’s baton. Police tackled him on a second-floor landing and used pepper spray to restrain him, Carrabino said.
After about five minutes, officers managed to handcuff him, but they could not get his hands behind his back, he said. As police were descending a flight of stairs to escort him outside, he reached for one of the officer’s service weapons, Carrabino said.
“He gets his hand on the grip of the gun and tries to pull it out, and one of the officers starts screaming, ‘He’s trying to get my gun! He’s trying to get my gun,’ ” Carrabino said.
Corbelli failed to free the firearm from its holster and was transported to police headquarters.
Carrabino praised officers for their role in the arrest.
“They all did a really good job and showed restraint,” said. “It was a volatile, crazy situation. Thankfully, the child was OK, and no one got hurt.”
At the day-care center Wednesday, the operator, Mairia Santos, 25, had tears in her eyes and said she was considering closing her business.
“All I want is some peace, just to try to forget this,” she said.
Laura Crimaldi can be reached at laura.crimaldi@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @lauracrimaldi.