Man seen with woman before car with toddler in it was stolen in KCK is in custody
A man who was with a woman who allegedly stole a car with a toddler in the back seat is in police custody.
The 3-year-old girl was found safe about an hour after the ordeal began about 7 p.m. Wednesday when a woman stole a silver 2006 Ford Focus from a gas station at North Seventh Street and Riverview Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.
Police said the driver of the Ford Focus left his vehicle running with the girl inside while he went into the gas station.
The child was sleeping in the back seat when the car was taken, Kansas City, Kan., Police Chief Terry Zeigler said.
Gray or silver 2006 Ford Focus (tag: DO7E5X)taken from 7th & Riverview w/ 3 yo sleeping in back seat. Officers searching for car.
— Terry Zeigler (@KCKPDChief) July 12, 2017
According to police, the car thief fled north of Seventh Street.
Authorities found the car and the child about 8 p.m. near 190th Street and Evans Road in Tonganoxie in Leavenworth County. She was not hurt but was taken to a local hospital as a precaution, police said.
Child has been found safe!! Thanks for the RTs!!
— Terry Zeigler (@KCKPDChief) July 13, 2017
Police used K-9 units to search for the woman in a nearby wooded area. She was not in custody as of noon Thursday. The suspect was described as a white woman with blonde hair wearing an all blue one-piece short set.
The suspect in the stolen car is a white female.
— Terry Zeigler (@KCKPDChief) July 12, 2017
Police on Wednesday also searched for a white male wearing a neon shirt and gray shorts who was driving an older utility truck, police said. They released a photo of the man and the truck Wednesday night.
That man was in custody before noon Thursday.
Tony Rizzo: 816-234-4435, @trizzkc
This story was originally published July 13, 2017 at 12:20 PM with the headline "Man seen with woman before car with toddler in it was stolen in KCK is in custody."