Police: Baby boy kidnapped from mall found safe; woman in custody
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. -- The family gathered in prayer at the Upper Merion police station after they were reunited with the 7-week-old baby boy kidnapped from the King of Prussia Mall.
PHOTOS: FAMILY REUNITED WITH KIDNAPPED BABY
Police located the baby and his alleged abductor in Treddyffrin Township.
Action News was there as the baby was reunited with his family. His mother said, "I would like to thank God for allowing my baby to come back. And, I want to thank the Upper Merion Police Department, and everybody on social media that helped me get my baby back. I want to thank you so much."
The baby's grandfather, Burdette Lewis was also grateful. He was asked what he would say to the alleged abductor. He said, "You have a problem. Lady may have a mental problem. She might have had a child, and lost her child. It is something wrong."
The suspect, who has not been identified, but is said to have ties to the King of Prussia area, has been taken into custody and charges are pending, police say.
"We were able to go to a number of locations tonight in both Upper Merion Township, Malvern and eventually into Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, where we did locate the woman, who was seen on video leaving with the baby," said Upper Merion Township Police Chief Tom Nolan. "The baby is safe and sound, but is getting checked."
Police say lots of tips came in once surveillance video was released of the suspect carrying the baby, identified as Ahsir Simmons, while leaving the mall around 5:45 p.m. on Thursday.
The woman had been showing off the baby, police say, to friends and family.
Officers responded to the food court area of the mall around 5:35 p.m. for a report of an abduction.
Police say the suspect befriended the family of the boy, and spent about 30 minutes with them in the mall's food court.
When the baby became fussy, police say the suspect was granted permission to hold him while the child's mother took a phone call and dealt with other children in her care.
Police say the suspect then walked away with the baby, and exited the mall in the area by Bonefish Grill.
An Amber Alert was issued around 9:30 p.m., shortly after a press conference was held in the mall's parking lot.
Shoppers were in disbelief that something like this could happen with all the police presence and surveillance cameras at the mall.
"It's unbelievable. That's crazy," Sara Elhollal of King of Prussia. "I feel so bad for the mother."
And yet there were others who were completely oblivious to what was going.
"They didn't make an announcement. They didn't do anything, they didn't say anything," said Camrah Carter of Camden, New Jersey.
"How am I supposed to know that's going on if nobody says anything?" said Amina Sabre of Camden, New Jersey.
