A Utah mother has been criminally charged with kidnapping an 11-year-old boy she believed was bullying her autistic son, according to court documents filed in the case.

Shannon Tufuga allegedly confronted the child while he was riding his bike and took him to her home without his parents' knowledge or consent. According to the criminal complaint, Tufuga was actively searching for the boy when she encountered him.

Once at her residence, Tufuga allegedly forced the 11-year-old to apologize to her son for supposed bullying behavior. The charging documents describe how Tufuga corralled the child into her vehicle during the incident.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about how parents handle allegations of bullying involving their children. While bullying of children with autism and other disabilities is a recognized problem in schools and communities, law enforcement officials stress that vigilante responses are illegal and can result in serious criminal charges.

Details about how the incident came to light or the current status of the case were not immediately available. Tufuga now faces kidnapping charges related to the alleged incident involving the minor child.