Police in Texas say they have taken custody of a missing 12-year-old girl, a week after she was reported getting into a stranger’s truck in the middle of the night.
Sarterion Preston, 27, was found by police with the missing girl in Columbus, Texas, about 110 miles from his home in Missouri City, and was arrested on suspicion of attempting to flee.
That girl is last seen A neighbor’s surveillance camera recorded her getting into a dark-colored Dodge Ram truck on Waterchase Drive around 1:40 a.m. on Feb. 22.
The mother said she had never run away before and did not know if she intentionally got into the truck or if she was forced to do so.
Friday around 12:40 p.m., Columbus Police said. they were warned It is said that the missing girl may have been at the Shell gas station and Preston was found with her. When the police tried to detain him, he tried to run away, but the police were able to catch him.
Preston was booked into the Colorado County Jail on suspicion of evading arrest. Police said other charges are being considered pending an investigation by the FBI.
The girl was taken to Texas Children’s Hospital for evaluation. Houston police said they are concerned the girl may have been trafficked during her disappearance.
Police issued an Amber Alert several days after she was first reported missing after receiving information that led them to believe she was in danger. Her family said they were upset the alert wasn’t raised sooner.
KHOU-TV reported that the girl’s family was relieved to hear she had been found and gathered in their front yard to sing “He’s an On-Time God” together.
Clara Edwards, a neighbor of the family, spoke to KHOU.
“I didn’t ask where or when or anything as long as you found her. I was so excited,” she said. “And tonight I can sleep without thinking of her.”
Police said the girl may have been using a social media app called “Tagged.” This is a dating app for adults only, and it’s a dating app.
Parents, said Jennifer Hill of the Child Assessment Center in Houston, said: must be diligent To protect children from online predators.
“In many cases, it even happens through the school itself… We have to worry about that every day and communicate openly with our kids because we don’t want to expose them to those dangers. We want to make sure that people are aware of the dangers, rather than just encountering them,” Hill said.
“So, unlike drug trafficking, when children are sold for sex, they can be used multiple times. In that sense, it is much more profitable than selling drugs that are only used once. is likely to be high,” she added.
Here’s local news about the incident:
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