Police Track Phone To Rescue Kidnapped 4-Year-Old

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — A tense search for a man in crisis and a vulnerable child ended safely, thanks in part to a quickly coordinated effort from jurisdictions across the Hudson Valley.

The Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services says that the kidnapped child was rescued earlier this week.

Putnam County 911 Dispatch reported the kidnapping of a child with a suspect believed to be traveling south on the Taconic State Parkway. The exact location on the parkway was not known at the time of the report, according to the 911 dispatch.

State police said that the suspect allegedly took a vehicle's keys and abducted a four-year-old child diagnosed with autism. Authorities said the suspect was not the custodial parent of the child and was reported to be dealing with mental health issues.

The suspect's phone was detected near the intersection of highways 84 and 684. Authorities believed he was likely headed to Brooklyn.

Patrol units from jurisdictions across the region were alerted and positioned.

State Police Somers was on the lookout and Westchester County Police Department Airport patrol was on standby at the southbound lane of Highway I-684, at Exit 2. At the same time, North Castle police were stationed at Exit 3 on I-684 and Westchester County Police Department Mount Kisco Patrol was standing by at Exit 4 for Route 172.

Putnam County Sheriff's Office deputies were able to stop the suspect's vehicle at the Croton Falls Firehouse. A New York State trooper was also present on the scene to assist.

"The suspect was apprehended, the child was unharmed, and the collective efforts of the officers demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting those in need, no matter the odds," the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services said in a statement released on social media.