A Georgia mother’s nightmare began when she walked outside after delivering an Instacart order and discovered that her running vehicle had vanished with her 2-year-old daughter still strapped inside.
“Someone just stole my car and it has my 2-year-old daughter in it,” the terrified mother told a 911 operator through tears.
“My 2-year-old daughter was in the backseat,” she continued. “I was dropping off an Instacart order and I came back outside and my car is gone. My daughter was inside.”
Atlanta police received the report of a stolen vehicle and kidnapping at approximately 4:36 p.m. on Thursday, July 30.
The mother had reportedly left the car running outside 930 Spring Street in Atlanta while she briefly went inside to complete the delivery.
Officers with the Atlanta Police Department’s Auto Crimes Enforcement Unit immediately began searching for the vehicle.
License plate readers quickly detected it, allowing police to locate the car within approximately 15 minutes.
Officers found the vehicle in a Publix parking lot with 21-year-old Saleem Martin allegedly behind the wheel.
Body-camera footage released by police showed officers ordering Martin to raise his hands and step out of the car.
Martin was placed in handcuffs as the little girl could be heard crying inside the vehicle.
The toddler was physically unharmed and reunited with her parents following the arrest.
However, disturbing allegations surfaced after the child was returned to her mother.
According to an arrest warrant obtained by 11Alive, the mother noticed that the bottom of her daughter’s dress had allegedly been unbuttoned.
The mother reportedly asked the little girl what had happened.
The toddler allegedly responded that “the man did it,” and indicated that she was referring to the person who had been driving the stolen vehicle.
The warrant also reportedly stated that officers found Martin with both hands on the toddler’s torso.
He was allegedly attempting to crouch down and hide between the seats when police arrived.
The Atlanta Police Department’s Special Victims Unit was brought in to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s clothing and Martin’s alleged contact with her.
Martin reportedly told investigators that he had touched the child because he was trying to calm her down.
He also allegedly claimed he entered the running vehicle because he wanted to return to New Jersey and did not initially realize that a young child was sitting in the backseat.
Police arrested Martin on multiple charges, including kidnapping, theft by taking, simple battery, entering an automobile, cruelty to children and criminal attempt to commit a felony.
The allegations involving the toddler remain under investigation, and the charges do not establish guilt.
What began as an ordinary grocery delivery turned into a frantic kidnapping search, but police technology and the rapid response of officers helped bring the little girl home safely within minutes.
Is anyone surprised to see a pic of a retarded looking black guy? No, that is the typical expectation when you read these articles.
Typical Muslim behavior. Welcome to the third world, Atlanta.