(Photo courtesy of WDTV)
A two-year-old girl was found unharmed in Washington County, Pa. Friday and a man is under arrest after an abduction in Preston County, police said.
The Preston County Sheriff’s Office first reported the abduction at 11:45 a.m. Friday at the Gas N Moore in Reedsville. Police said a two-year-old girl was in a 2009 white Toyota Corolla stolen by an adult white male. The suspect has been identified as Timothy Adam White, 24.
The motive behind the theft is still unclear. Police said White knew the girl’s family, but the nature of the relationship has not been made public.
Police found the child in Richeyville, a Washington County town about 40 miles south of Pittsburgh. That’s where White allegedly left the girl with a good Samaritan before stealing another vehicle and continuing north.
Later Friday afternoon, police caught up with White in Baldwin, Pa. He allegedly led officers on a pursuit along Route 51 in Allegheny County before police took him into custody.
Officers from several law enforcement agencies began a frantic search after the abduction was reported Friday morning. However, an Amber Alert was not issues. Law enforcement officials said they could not yet comment on why an Amber Alert was not used.
West Virginia State Police are investigating. They say kidnapping charges are pending against White.