Police Arrest Man Who Stole Car With Kids Inside
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Police have arrested the man wanted for carjacking a vehicle with children still inside. The children were found just a short time later.
Police say 37-year-old repeat offender John Bowling was taken into custody by Southeast District patrol officers in the Unit block of North Montford Avenue just before Friday night.
Rick Ritter spoke exclusively with the father of the children and has more on the suspect who's been identified.
RELATED: City Police Search for Man Involved in Carjacking of 2 Young Children
The man they say was behind the carjacking that triggered an Amber Alert.
It's an opportunity Eric O'Neill thought might never come again. A chance to hold his kids after they were kidnapped Thursday night.
"It was real heartbreaking, when they say men don't cry, I cried my heart out," said O'Neill.
The heart-pounding moments unfolded along North Port Street near Patterson Park. A mother unloading her car and leaves it running with her 4-year-old and 19-month old boys still inside.
Video obtained by WJZ showed the suspect casually enter the vehicle and then took off.
"I got a phone call by my wife, the kids were gone and I just sped home," said O'Neill.
Police quickly issue an Amber Alert and the two children were safely found a few blocks away.
"That's a relief, not to find them dead in the car, or find them anywhere else," said O'Neill.
Video shows that the mother's car was parked right here and police say if it wasn't for a neighbor's surveillance camera, this story could have had a much different ending.
"Huge role, once we get that photograph, it gives us an idea of who we're looking for, more importantly it gives community an idea," said Baltimore Police Spokesman Jeremy Silbert.
The suspect, Bowling, of Dundalk, has a lengthy criminal history.
While both he and the family's 2007 Saturn are still nowhere to be found, O' Neill is thankful to police and the community for getting his kids back home.
"Baltimore has a lot of love, people just come in and mess it up," he said.
Bowling is being charged with kidnapping, reckless endangerment and auto theft.
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