- Police in Texas have arrested Sarterion Preston, 27, of Houston, in connection with the disappearance of a 12-year-old girl who had been missing for eight days.
- Preston was charged Friday with fleeing and eluding authorities for attempting to flee from a police officer, according to the Columbus Police Department.
- The girl, who was the subject of an Amber Alert, was found in Columbus, about 154 miles west of Houston, around 12:40 p.m. Friday.
Police in Texas have arrested a man suspected in the disappearance of a girl who was missing for eight days until she was safely found.
The Columbus Police Department announced in a social media post Saturday that Sarterion Preston, 27, of Houston, was charged with fleeing authorities after he attempted to flee from officers on Friday.
Police learned around 12:40 p.m. Friday that the 12-year-old girl wanted in the Amber Alert was located in Columbus, about 154 miles west of Houston.
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Police said the girl was identified and taken to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston for evaluation.
A police car is seen in Houston, Texas. Police in Texas have arrested a man suspected in the disappearance of a girl who was missing for eight days until she was safely found. (Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)
The Houston Police Department issued an alert to the public about the missing girl after she was last seen riding in a pickup truck in the city on February 22, according to news reports.
Preston is being held at the Colorado County Jail and may face additional charges pending an investigation by the FBI, Columbus police said.
Texas girl Audrey Cunningham found dead in river, authorities focus on capital murder suspect
A message left Sunday at a phone number listed for Preston was not immediately returned.
The arrest comes on the heels of another kidnapping incident involving a young girl in the Houston area.
A memorial service was held Saturday for 11-year-old Audrey Cunningham, who was allegedly murdered by a family friend with a history of violence.
Don McDougall was charged with capital murder in connection with Cunningham’s death. Her prosecutors have argued that her defendant was supposed to take her to the school bus stop when she disappeared on February 15th. Her body was discovered in a river near Houston on February 20th.
