Police Find Father They Say Fled With 10-Month-Old, Believe Baby Safe In Colorado
LOWELL (CBS) -- Police said a Lowell man they claim took off with a baby before the Department of Children and Families could take custody of her is cooperating with officers looking for the child.
Police said Calvin Sulzle, 24, is not under arrest or facing any charges after he was found getting off a flight at Logan Airport around 9:50 a.m. Wednesday morning. They believe he took his 10-month-old daughter, Summer Monteiro-Bravehawk, to stay with family in Colorado.
"Information received indicates the child is safe with family members in Colorado," the Lowell Police Department said in a statement.
The Lowell father who allegedly took his baby in custody; baby reportedly with relatives in Colorado @lowellpd tells #WBZ. Story at 1130.
— KarynRegal (@Karynregal) April 13, 2016
Investigators had received information that Sulzle took flights to Colorado, and were able to find out when he would be returning Wednesday morning on a connecting flight via Charlotte. Sulzle was met at the gate by detectives from the Lowell Police Family Services Unit.
Police said earlier that the decision whether or not to charge Sulzle would depend on whether or not he knew DCF had a court order to take the child.
Calvin Sulzle allegedly took off with his 10 month old daughter after the girl's mother was charged with assaulting a police officer.
— KarynRegal (@Karynregal) April 13, 2016
On Monday, DCF sought custody of Monteiro-Bravehawk after her mother, Katelyn Monteiro, 30, and another man, Hugo Restrepo, 30, were arrested after a fight in Monteiro's Walnut Street apartment. Both were charged with assault and battery on a police officer, and Monteiro also faces charges of assault and battery on a public servant.
Monteiro-Bravehawk stayed at her father's home after that incident, and DCF workers contacted Sulzle later Monday. Lowell Police said he was not home at the time, and would not tell DCF workers where he and the child had gone.
He then stopped answering his phone, and DCF got a court order for custody of Monteiro-Bravehawk. When they arrived at Walnut Street to take custody of the child, they found out Sulzle was not there.
Authorities earlier believed Sulzle, a member of the Sioux Rosebud Tribe, was taking the child to the tribe's reservation near Mission, South Dakota.
Lowell Police said the investigation continues, and more information will be released as it becomes available.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karyn Regal reports