Police in Missouri are seeking charges against man accused of kidnapping a 4-year-old boy with autism on Saturday before he was located in another city and crashed his vehicle trying to get away.
The California Police Department said that the child’s mother reported early Sunday morning that the 4-year-old and Stephen Curtner had not been seen since Saturday afternoon.
Curtner’s cell phone pinged in Jefferson City, about 25 miles away, and police there located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. Curtner fled the officers, however, striking multiple vehicles in his attempt to escape. With the assistance of Holts Summit officers, police eventually pinned the vehicle and took Curtner into custody.
The child was found inside the vehicle. Police were sent to retrieve the boy’s mother and reunite her with her son, as Curtner had wrecked the family’s only vehicle (police did not explain the relationship between Curtner, the boy, and his mother).
The California police officer also returned the mother and son to their home.
Holts Summit police said that multiple police vehicles were damaged in the pursuit and eventual capture of Curtner but that no one was physically injured. They are seeking assault on a special victim and property damage charges.
The Jefferson City Police Department has charged Curtner with aggravated fleeing, assault on a special victim, resisting arrest, endangering the welfare of a child, and property damage. The City of California has not announced any charges.
