MILPITAS (KRON) — “It is a horrific, horrific crime.” That’s how Milpitas Police Chief Steve Pangelinan described Friday morning’s alleged child abduction.
A 3-year-old child was abducted from the Milpitas library on North Main Street around 10:41 a.m., but has been safely located.SEE THE FULL NEWS CONFERENCE HERE
Police searched the library for the toddler, but after hearing that a toddler matching the description was seen leaving the library with an African-American man, police determined that this was likely a child abduction.
Library staff called the police who notified surrounding agencies. An operator with the Valley Transit Authority saw two people matching the descriptions get on the bus around 11:35 a.m. at the Great Mall station.
The VTA driver called the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, Milpitas police and Fremont police.
Fremont police were closer, so they responded, getting there around 11:40 a.m. They saw an African-American man walk off the bus, holding the toddler in his arms. A Fremont Police Officer pried the child away from Edington, who briefly struggled with the officers before being into custody.
Police took a picture of the child and sent it to Milpitas police officers who were with the child’s mother. She positively identified the boy.
An official with the Milpitas Police Department says that the child appears to be unharmed.
The child was reunited with his parents, who were waiting at the Milpitas Police Department headquarters.
“The bus driver is a hero,” Pangelinan said. “Absolute hero.”
Police have identified the suspect as Alfonso David Edington. His most recent address was in Pittsburg.
He has been charged with kidnapping a child under 14 within county or to another county, state, or country. He will be in court Tuesday.