STORM2K

BREAKING NEWS

LANCASTER, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - An Amber Alert has been issued for Lancaster two-year-old Briana Bell, who was last seen Wednesday morning in the 2700 block of E. Pepperidge. Bell, an African-American female about 37 inches tall, was last seen wearing a blue warm-up suit, red jacket and purple house shoes. Details to come.

Amber Alert issued for Lancaster toddler

LANCASTER, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - An Amber Alert was issued Thursday morning for a Lancaster two-year-old believed to have been taken by her 16-year-old aunt.

Lancaster Police Lt. J.C. Hall said Briana Bell was last seen about 7:30 Wednesday morning at her grandmother's home in the 2700 block of E. Pepperidge.

Authorities believe Alexess McCray, 16, disappeared with the toddler while getting ready to leave home for a court appearance. McCray has a history of running away and has been known to go to locations in Dallas and Garland in the past, Hall said.

Briana was described as a black female, 37 inches tall and weighing approximately 36 pounds. She was last seen wearing a blue warm-up suit, red jacket and purple houseshoes.

McCray was described as a black female, five feet six inches tall and weighing approximately 200 pounds. McCray was last seen wearing blue jeans and a black T-shirt.

There is no information on any vehicles that may be involved.

Lancaster toddler found safely after Amber Alert

LANCASTER, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A 2-year-old Lancaster girl was returned to her parents Thursday evening after an Amber Alert was issued earlier in the day.

Lancaster police Lt. J.C. Hall said Briana Bell was last seen about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at her grandmother's home in the 2700 block of East Pepperidge Drive.

Authorities believe Alexess McCray, a 16-year-old aunt, disappeared with the toddler while getting ready to leave home for a court appearance. The girl has a history of running away and has been known to go to locations in Dallas and Garland, Lt. Hall said.

Briana was returned to Dallas relatives about 7:30 p.m. Thursday. She appeared to be in good health and went back to her mother and father, police said.

The investigation into her disappearance is continuing.

Teen found safe; Amber Alert canceled

From KVUE ABC 24 in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas - Cedar Park officials have canceled an Amber Alert for a teenage girl they said was abducted by her ex-boyfriend.

In a news release issued Tuesday afternoon, Cedar Park police said Jessica Olvera, 16, contacted them and said she was no longer with her 22-year old ex-boyfriend, Daniel Andrade. He had been suspected of abducting her.

Family members said Jessica was taking out the trash at her home in the Austin suburb Monday night when Andrade drove by and took her.

Jessica told police she was making arrangements to have a friend bring her to the Cedar Park police station, and that she was not injured.

Investigators planned to interview thne girl about the incident.

Andrade was not in custody. An arrest warrant was issued for kidnapping.

Police said their investigation was continuing.

BREAKING NEWS

PLANO, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Plano police have issued an Amber Alert for one-year-old Anthony James Baldwin III. They are seeking his father, Anthony James Baldwin Jr., in connection with the kidnapping. The elder Baldwin is black, 6'-1", weighs 230 pounds, was last seen wearing a black T-Shirt and faded jeans. He was driving a 2004 BMW 525 with Texas license plate 979-JMM.

Missing Plano infant found safe; father sought

By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8

PLANO, Texas — Plano police said a one-year-old boy who was the subject of an Amber Alert was found safe Friday morning. The child's father, Anthony James Baldwin Jr., was still being sought for questioning.

"The most important thing is that the child was not harmed and is safe," Plano police Detective Mike Johnson told reporters at police headquarters at 8:45 a.m. "No sign of injury or foul play was reported to me."

Anthony James Baldwin III had been in Child Protective Services custody at the Collin County Children's Advocacy Center when the elder Baldwin allegedly snatched him shortly after 7 o'clock Thursday night.

"He wasn't properly identified when he entered the facility, and he was allowed in with another group of people that ... actually had reason to be entering the the facility," Johnson said.

Concern for the child's welfare mounted as hours went by. News 8 has learned the the father, a 22-year-old Hurricane Katrina evacuee, has a history of two family violence-related charges and another for evading arrest.

Police said Anthony James Baldwin Jr. is is wanted for aggravated kidnapping. "We're still looking for the father; we'd still like to speak with him," Johnson said.

Baldwin is described as black, 6'-1" tall, 230 pounds, and was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and faded jeans. He normally drives a 2004 BMW 525 with Texas license plate 979-JMM, but was seen leaving the advocacy center driving a different vehicle. No description was available.

Contact your local police agency if you have any information about Baldwin.


Plano Police Dept.
Anthony James Baldwin Jr., right, is wanted for questioning.

Kidnapped girl may be headed to Texas

By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8

A nationwide Amber Alert was issued early Monday for a missing five-year-old Illinois girl.

Makayla Christy was believed to be traveling with her grandmother from Granite City, Illinois, possibly headed to Longview in East Texas.

Investigators said the grandmother, Deborah Gaye McFadden—who has also used the aliases "Deborah Gaye Smiley" and "Deborah Rohrback"—was free on bond, facing felony warrants for murder and arson. They said Makayla was considered to be in danger.

The child was described as a white 2'-4" white female with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt with pink lettering that says, "I'm not perfect, but I'm always right. Makayla wore khaki capri pants and no shoes.

Deborah McFadden is 44 years old, a 5'-4" white female with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing light blue jeans, a gray sweatshirt and a black jacket.

McFadden was driving a 2000 Mercury Sable with Texas license plates Z25-DWM.

Call 911 if you see McFadden or Makayla.

Kidnapped girl found safe in Illinois

By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8

A nationwide Amber Alert issued early Monday for a missing five-year-old Illinois girl was canceled hours later after the youngster was found safe.

Police said Makayla Christy was taken Sunday night from her home in Pontoon Beach, Ill. by her grandmother, 44-year-old Deborah McFadden, after an argument with the girl's parents.

Investigators believed they might be headed to McFadden's home in Longview, Texas.

But police recovered the youngster unharmed Monday morning from a motel in Fairmont City, Ill.

Police traced a cell phone call from the grandmother, who was out of jail on bond for the murder of her ex-boyfriend in Texas. She also faced arson charges.

"We were almost planning on going to Texas; that's where we thought we'd find the grandmother," said Granite City police Maj. Jeff Conner. "It was great to find her here still in the area. It makes things a lot better."

McFadden was taken into police custody on kidnapping charges.

Makayla told investigators she watched TV in the motel with her grandmother during the 15 hours she was missing.

"It's hard, you know; it's my mom," said Laura Booth, the youngster's mother. "This is my daughter, you know. She's only five."

Booth said she never believed her mother would hurt Makayla.

KMOV-TV reporter Jeff Lea in Granite City, Ill. contributed to this report.

Kidnapping ends in fatal shootout

HOUSTON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - The suspect in an apparent kidnapping involving a 4-year-old DeSoto girl died Thursday afternoon after a confrontation that involved an exchange of gunfire with police in Houston, KHOU-TV reported.

Houston police told KHOU that Jeremy Ethon Roberson, 28, was dead after the vehicle in which he was traveling crashed during a chase that stretched along Interstate 45 on the city's north side. The accident and investigation closed down a portion of southbound I-45.

Initial reports indicate the child, Kiara Renee Allen, suffered unknown injuries in the accident and was being treated in an ambulance at the scene.

The girl's mother was seen leaping from the vehicle as the chase ended and was pulled to safety by officers. It is unknown if she was injured.

DeSoto police had issued a local Amber Alert for Kiara on Thursday afternoon. Police said the girl and her mother were taken from their apartment in the 1000 block of Pecan Crossing in DeSoto late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

DeSoto police Capt. Ron Smith said Allen’s mother was supposed to babysit Kiara Thursday morning, but Allen never arrived.

Investigators believe Roberson, said to be Allen’s boyfriend, abducted the mother and child.

When they called Ms. Allen’s cell phone, “he answered her cell. They heard her make a plea for help,” Capt. Smith said.

He said Mr. Roberson did not say where he was driving and “was very brief.”

Dallas Morning News staff writer Holly Yan contributed to this report.

Live Houston Traffic Reports from Traffic Pulse

It's been all over the news for the past hour or so. They're currently reporting that the mom is in serious condition.

Kidnapped mom, daugher released from hospital

HOUSTON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) — It began with an apparent kidnapping by a man of his ex-girlfriend and her daughter from a Dallas suburb. It ended in a police shootout on a Houston freeway after a high-speed chase dotted by gunfire and collisions.

Police said the suspected kidnapper, identified as Jeremy Ethon Roberson, died Thursday after officers opened fire on the vehicle they had been chasing for about an hour starting north of Houston.

Houston police Lt. Robert Manzo said it wasn't clear whether Roberson was shot by police or shot himself. Police considered the suspect dangerous and had no choice but to fire on him, Manzo said.

"He was firing the shotgun at motorists who were caught in the middle as well as in the direction of officers," Manzo said.

Roberson's ex-girlfriend, Andrea Nichole Allen, and her daughter, 4-year-old Kiara Renee Allen, from Desoto in Dallas County, about 230 miles north of Houston, were taken to Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital. Both were treated and released Thursday night, said hospital spokesman Dan Pierce.

Authorities learned of Allen's disappearance when her mother, Vickie Allen, reported her and the child missing.

Desoto police issued an Amber Alert when a man identifying himself as "Roscoe" answered Allen's cell phone, the department said in a statement. The man told police Allen was "busy," but officers heard a woman in the background saying, "Please, please let me go."

Police in Shenandoah, located in Montgomery County, about 30 miles north of Houston, got calls about 2:30 p.m. Thursday that someone in a white Dodge Neon was firing at other motorists, Manzo said.

Roberson was holding a shotgun to Allen's head as she drove her vehicle, he said.

As the car made its way into Houston south on Interstate 45, Roberson cleared away traffic by firing at cars, at one point shooting through the front windshield to move a truck.

He also kicked out the back window of the car in order to fire at the more than a dozen police cars from numerous agencies in Harris and Montgomery counties that pursued him.

The chase came to an abrupt end when the car slammed into the back of a pickup truck on the freeway and careened off the road into the grassy side strip.

Allen was thrown from the driver side door, which had been opened just before impact. She started walking on the freeway for a few seconds before a deputy pulled her to the ground behind a squad car as officers fired on her vehicle.

Manzo said police exchanged gunfire with Roberson after the vehicle went off the road.

When the shooting stopped, police went in and rescued Kiara.

"Bullets were flying everywhere," said witness Kymberly Rooks, whose car was sideswiped by the kidnapping victims.

Rooks estimated she heard at least 40 gunshots.

Her boyfriend, Eddie Huntsberry, said a bullet ricocheted off a gas station sign and landed at his feet before he and Rooks ran behind the station for cover.

All southbound lanes of I-45 were shutdown for hours after the deadly chase.

Roberson, who was to turn 30 on Sunday, had a minor criminal record in Dallas County.

"They had their ups and downs, but this wasn't no kidnapping— I don't believe that," Karl Roberson, the suspect's brother, told WFAA-TV in Dallas.

Thursday's incident was one of several recent high-speed police chases that have resulted in criticism of Houston police. Houston Police Capt. Dwayne Ready said Thursday's chase was justified because officers dealt with a violent suspect.

Child Abduction Emergency for the United States
NEC017-031-103-161-220253-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
CHILD ABDUCTION EMERGENCY
SD AMBER ALERT TEAM PIERRE SD
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
654 PM CST TUE FEB 21 2006

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE SD AMBER
ALERT TEAM.

SOUTH DAKOTA AMBER ALERT
(ISSUED 6:15 PM (CDT), TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006)

CHILD DESCRIPTION:
?WHITE MALE, 5-7 YEARS OLD, 3 FT. TO 3 FT 6 INCHES TALL, AVERAGE
BUILD, BROWN HAIR ?WEARING BLUE PANTS, RED SHIRT, BLUE COAT AND
CARRYING A LIME GREEN BACKPACK

SUSPECT DESCRIPTION:
?WHITE MALE, ABOUT 50 YEARS OLD, AVERAGE HEIGHT AND BUILD, GRAY
HAIR, CLEAN SHAVEN ?WEARING BLUE PANTS, BLUE WAIST LENGTH COAT AND
CARRYING A RED BANDANA

SUSPECT VEHICLE DESCRIPTION:
?OLDER RED FOUR DOOR SEDAN WITH A 6 INCH GOLD STAR ON THE DRIVERS
SIDE REAR QUARTER PANEL. POSSIBLE RUST ON THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS
SQUARE SHAPED IN BACK. ?

UNKNOWN LICENSE PLATES.

NO PHOTO AVAILABLE

ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 21ST AT ABOUT 3:35 PM TWO WATERTOWN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL CHILDREN WITNESSED AN UNKNOWN MALE CHILD WALKING HOME FROM
THE MELLETTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE WITNESSES SAW THE BOY BEING
FORCIBLY PLACED INTO AN OLDER RED CAR NEAR THE SCHOOL. A MALE
SUSPECT PULLED UP ALONG SIDE THE BOY JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND
PICKED THE CHILD UP AND CARRIED HIM TO THE CAR. THE SUSPECT THEN
PLACED A RED BANDANA OVER THE FACE AND MOUTH OF THE CHILD AND PLACED
THE CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR. THE CHILD APPEARED TO BE
KICKING AND SQUIRMING DURING THE INCIDENT. THE SUSPECT THEN DROVE
OFF WITH THE BOY NORTHBOUND ON 2ND STREET WEST IN WATERTOWN, SD.

IF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS CHILD, THIS SUSPECT OR THIS VEHICLE CALL
605-753-6166. IMMEDIATELY.

DO NOT TAKE ACTION TO RESCUE THE CHILD, CALL IMMEDIATELY.

PLEASE REPRINT THIS POSTER AS MUCH AS YOU WANT AND TAKE IT TO GAS
STATIONS, CONVENIENCE STORES, RESTAURANTS, MOTELS AND OTHER HIGH
TRAFFIC LOCATIONS IN YOUR AREA. TROUBLE PRINTING? GO TO THE STATE
WEB PAGE HTTP://WWW.STATE.SD.US/ AND CLICK ON "AMBER ALERT". THE
"AMBER ALERT" PAGE WILL BE DISPLAYED. THEN CLICK ON THE "CLICK HERE
TO VIEW POSTER" TO DISPLAY AND PRINT THE POSTER.

VIA DPS - STATE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS. PIERRE SD.

$$

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEZ004>006-008-094-220300-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
CHILD ABDUCTION EMERGENCY
SD AMBER ALERT TEAM PIERRE SD
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTH PLATTE NE
658 PM CST TUE FEB 21 2006

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE SD AMBER
ALERT TEAM.

SOUTH DAKOTA AMBER ALERT
(ISSUED 6:15 PM (CDT), TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006)

CHILD DESCRIPTION:
?WHITE MALE, 5-7 YEARS OLD, 3 FT. TO 3 FT 6 INCHES TALL, AVERAGE
BUILD, BROWN HAIR ?WEARING BLUE PANTS, RED SHIRT, BLUE COAT AND
CARRYING A LIME GREEN BACKPACK

SUSPECT DESCRIPTION:
?WHITE MALE, ABOUT 50 YEARS OLD, AVERAGE HEIGHT AND BUILD, GRAY
HAIR, CLEAN SHAVEN ?WEARING BLUE PANTS, BLUE WAIST LENGTH COAT AND
CARRYING A RED BANDANA

SUSPECT VEHICLE DESCRIPTION:
?OLDER RED FOUR DOOR SEDAN WITH A 6 INCH GOLD STAR ON THE DRIVERS
SIDE REAR QUARTER PANEL. POSSIBLE RUST ON THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS
SQUARE SHAPED IN BACK. ?

UNKNOWN LICENSE PLATES.

NO PHOTO AVAILABLE

ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 21ST AT ABOUT 3:35 PM TWO WATERTOWN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL CHILDREN WITNESSED AN UNKNOWN MALE CHILD WALKING HOME FROM
THE MELLETTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE WITNESSES SAW THE BOY BEING
FORCIBLY PLACED INTO AN OLDER RED CAR NEAR THE SCHOOL. A MALE
SUSPECT PULLED UP ALONG SIDE THE BOY JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND
PICKED THE CHILD UP AND CARRIED HIM TO THE CAR. THE SUSPECT THEN
PLACED A RED BANDANA OVER THE FACE AND MOUTH OF THE CHILD AND PLACED
THE CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR. THE CHILD APPEARED TO BE
KICKING AND SQUIRMING DURING THE INCIDENT. THE SUSPECT THEN DROVE
OFF WITH THE BOY NORTHBOUND ON 2ND STREET WEST IN WATERTOWN, SD.

IF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS CHILD, THIS SUSPECT OR THIS VEHICLE CALL
605-753-6166. IMMEDIATELY.

DO NOT TAKE ACTION TO RESCUE THE CHILD, CALL IMMEDIATELY.

PLEASE REPRINT THIS POSTER AS MUCH AS YOU WANT AND TAKE IT TO GAS
STATIONS, CONVENIENCE STORES, RESTAURANTS, MOTELS AND OTHER HIGH
TRAFFIC LOCATIONS IN YOUR AREA. TROUBLE PRINTING? GO TO THE STATE
WEB PAGE HTTP://WWW.STATE.SD.US/ AND CLICK ON "AMBER ALERT". THE
"AMBER ALERT" PAGE WILL BE DISPLAYED. THEN CLICK ON THE "CLICK HERE
TO VIEW POSTER" TO DISPLAY AND PRINT THE POSTER.

VIA DPS - STATE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS. PIERRE SD.

$$

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SDC003>137-220225-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
CHILD ABDUCTION EMERGENCY
SD AMBER ALERT TEAM PIERRE SD
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABERDEEN SD
625 PM CST TUE FEB 21 2006

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE SD AMBER
ALERT TEAM.

SOUTH DAKOTA AMBER ALERT
(ISSUED 6:15 PM (CDT), TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2006)

CHILD DESCRIPTION:
?WHITE MALE, 5-7 YEARS OLD, 3 FT. TO 3 FT 6 INCHES TALL, AVERAGE
BUILD, BROWN HAIR ?WEARING BLUE PANTS, RED SHIRT, BLUE COAT AND
CARRYING A LIME GREEN BACKPACK

SUSPECT DESCRIPTION:
?WHITE MALE, ABOUT 50 YEARS OLD, AVERAGE HEIGHT AND BUILD, GRAY
HAIR, CLEAN SHAVEN ?WEARING BLUE PANTS, BLUE WAIST LENGTH COAT AND
CARRYING A RED BANDANA

SUSPECT VEHICLE DESCRIPTION:
?OLDER RED FOUR DOOR SEDAN WITH A 6 INCH GOLD STAR ON THE DRIVERS
SIDE REAR QUARTER PANEL. POSSIBLE RUST ON THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS
SQUARE SHAPED IN BACK. ?

UNKNOWN LICENSE PLATES.

NO PHOTO AVAILABLE

ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 21ST AT ABOUT 3:35 PM TWO WATERTOWN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL CHILDREN WITNESSED AN UNKNOWN MALE CHILD WALKING HOME FROM
THE MELLETTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE WITNESSES SAW THE BOY BEING
FORCIBLY PLACED INTO AN OLDER RED CAR NEAR THE SCHOOL. A MALE
SUSPECT PULLED UP ALONG SIDE THE BOY JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND
PICKED THE CHILD UP AND CARRIED HIM TO THE CAR. THE SUSPECT THEN
PLACED A RED BANDANA OVER THE FACE AND MOUTH OF THE CHILD AND PLACED
THE CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR. THE CHILD APPEARED TO BE
KICKING AND SQUIRMING DURING THE INCIDENT. THE SUSPECT THEN DROVE
OFF WITH THE BOY NORTHBOUND ON 2ND STREET WEST IN WATERTOWN, SD.

IF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS CHILD, THIS SUSPECT OR THIS VEHICLE CALL
605-753-6166. IMMEDIATELY.

DO NOT TAKE ACTION TO RESCUE THE CHILD, CALL IMMEDIATELY.

PLEASE REPRINT THIS POSTER AS MUCH AS YOU WANT AND TAKE IT TO GAS
STATIONS, CONVENIENCE STORES, RESTAURANTS, MOTELS AND OTHER HIGH
TRAFFIC LOCATIONS IN YOUR AREA. TROUBLE PRINTING? GO TO THE STATE
WEB PAGE HTTP://WWW.STATE.SD.US/ AND CLICK ON "AMBER ALERT". THE
"AMBER ALERT" PAGE WILL BE DISPLAYED. THEN CLICK ON THE "CLICK HERE
TO VIEW POSTER" TO DISPLAY AND PRINT THE POSTER.

VIA DPS - STATE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS. PIERRE SD.

$$
KEEFE

it is sad we even have to issue amber alerts some people are just crazy...

Breaking News

DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A child has been forced into a car in far south Oak Cliff. Details to come.

Amber Alert issued for Johnson County boy

JOHNSON COUNTY, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - An Amber Alert was issued around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday for a 5-year old child who was reported missing since around 4:30 p.m.

Anthony Turner was last seen riding his bicycle near County Road 600 and Farm-to-Market Road 917 south of Burleson in rural Johnson County.

Turner is Caucasian, 3-foot tall and about 45 pounds. He has brown hair, brown eyes and was said to be wearing a red and white jersey with the number "90" in black. He also had on jeans and tennis shoes.

A short time before the young boy was reported missing, people in Burleson complained about a 1984 or 1985 dirty gold or tan Ford Taurus cruising the area trying to pickup children.

Police said they picked up their search around 6:00 p.m.

"We've got at least five police agencies and five fire departments out here," said Sheriff Bob Alfred, Johnson County. "We've had CareFlite helicopters and DPS helicopters. We do have an Amber Alert and we got a missing child call that went out to 7,000 residents within 10 miles of this area."

The weather grew colder with a little bit of rain as the search went late into the night.

Police asked residents who wanted to help in the search to keep their eyes open in their immediate area.

Jim Douglas contributed to this report