ELYRIA — A man is in custody after police say he abducted a six-year-old child and stole a vehicle following an argument Friday morning.
Officers with the Elyria Police Department were dispatched around 11:11 a.m. on April 3 to the Friendship Gas Station on Beechwood Drive for a reported child abduction and stolen vehicle.
According to police, a 27-year-old woman had been traveling near Interstate 90 and State Route 57 with her child and the child’s father, identified as Luis Manuel Gonzalez Rodriguez, 31, when an argument occurred.
During the dispute, the woman exited the vehicle. Police say Rodriguez then moved into the driver’s seat and began driving away with the child still inside.
As the vehicle pulled away, the woman was briefly on the hood before Rodriguez stopped and allowed her to get off. He then fled the scene with the child, the victim’s vehicle, and her cell phone.
The woman walked to a nearby gas station and contacted police. Authorities determined Rodriguez did not have custodial rights to the child.
A “Be On the Lookout” alert was issued, and the child was entered into law enforcement databases as an endangered missing juvenile. The vehicle was also reported stolen as detectives began investigating.
Around 12:20 p.m., the stolen vehicle was found unoccupied at a storage facility on Toledo Avenue in Lorain. Multiple agencies assisted in the search, including the Lorain Police Department, North Ridgeville Police Department, Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the FBI.
At approximately 1:50 p.m., Rodriguez and the child were located at a residence on 39th Street in Lorain. Police said he was taken into custody without incident. The child was safely recovered and returned to the mother.
Rodriguez has been charged with two counts of kidnapping, child endangering, interference with custody, motor vehicle theft, and theft. He is being held at the Lorain County Jail without bond pending his initial court appearance.
Captain Bill Lantz credited the outcome to coordination among multiple agencies.
“The safe recovery of this child is a direct result of the outstanding teamwork, communication, and dedication demonstrated by our officers, dispatchers, detectives and law enforcement partners,” Lantz said.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Catalano at 440-326-1213 or jcatalano@cityofelyria.org.