The Flagler County Sheriff’s Department alerted the community of a child abduction originating in Flagler County at around 3:20 p.m. on Friday.
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The children were taken by a family member who did not have custody or legal authority to take the children. At the time of the alert, deputies were looking for a grey, Toyota Sienna minivan with an Indiana tag.
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According to information from an FCSO information officer, Derek Jordan, the suspect and father, took his 3 and 4-year-old children from a home he did not live in. He pushed the children’s grandmother down to the floor, took the kids and drove off.
FCSO also said that Jordan did not have any parental rights to the children, only the mother did.
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Deputies began to canvass the area for the suspect’s vehicle. FCSO’s Real Time Crime Center alerted nearby agencies of the van’s description and of the situation. The Major Case Unit also began working to display an Amber Alert for the children.
Florida Highway Patrol, with assistance from the St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, spotted the van on I-10 (near mile marker 346) and made a traffic stop. FCSO added that Jordan is being charged at this time with burglary with battery and interference with child custody. Additional charges might or might not be added at another time.
“With our technology were able to actually watch the traffic stop and arrest of the suspect two counties away on I-10,” FCSO said in a statement. “This is a great example of why we started a RTCC and invested in our technology. I’m very proud of our team and all the partners that assisted in bringing this case to a quick and safe reunion to the appropriate parent/guardian.”
Both children were not hurt and are considered safe.
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This is a developing story. When Action News Jax receives more information, this story will be updated.