Suspect in custody, child still missing in Amber Alert out of Lansing
LANSING, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - Police have arrested a man accused of kidnapping a toddler in Lansing that prompted an Amber Alert early Monday morning.
READ: FBI offering $25,000 reward to help locate missing 2-year-old Wynter Smith
According to the Lansing Police Department, Rashad Trice, 26, was arrested in St. Clair Shores early Monday morning after he allegedly kidnapped 2-year-old Wynter Smith. The pair were last seen Sunday night at about 11:30 p.m. on the south side of Lansing in a 2013 white Chevrolet Impala with a license plate tag of EJR6098.
Wynter's grandmother, Sharen Eddings, said their family is in disbelief.
"I was scared, I didn't want to hear that," Eddings said.
At about 11:20 p.m. on July 2, police were called to the 3000 block of Beau Jarden Drive in Lansing for a reported stabbing and found a 22-year-old woman, identified as Wynter's mother, also Eddings' daughter, who was allegedly stabbed and assaulted by Trice.
Police say the two were reportedly in a relationship prior to the incident and Trice is not the 2-year-old's father.
"This has been the worst thing that's ever happened to me, this is an an innocent young child, a baby, it can't get any worse than that," Eddings said.
Lansing police updated the situation on Monday, saying that Trice had been taken into custody after locating the stolen vehicle, but Wynter was still missing. Police say he initially fled and resisted police during the arrest. Police also say the high-speed chase ended with Trice crashing into a St. Clair Shores Police cruiser. That officer suffered minor injuries.
However, Trice is not currently cooperating with police so Eddings wants to send his family a message.
"You have to do the right thing, you have to. If you have her, I'm not saying you are but if you do, or you know anything say something if you know you're son's behavior, if you know where he could've been, go to the police office, and force him to talk to you," Eddings said.
Family also told CBS Detroit that family members and law enforcement agencies conducted a search of the area, included the woods, near Smith's home Monday evening, but did not locate Wynter. Authorities will continue to investigate.
Police are asking anyone with information on the whereabouts of little Wynter Smith to call the department at 517-483-4600 or call Crime Stoppers at 517-483-7867.
Lansing police are asking the public not to spread any misinformation about the case as they continue the search for Wynter.
In addition, authorities have released a map of the route they believe Trice may have taken with the 2-year-old girl. Anyone who travels this route is asked to watch for anything unusual while they are driving.
