A group of friends in Maryland acted swiftly after receiving an Amber alert, successfully locating a vehicle linked to a suspected child abductor and helping to ensure a safe recovery of the missing child.
The Prince George County Police Department issued the alert for one-year-old Deiren Garris Collins around 2 PM on Saturday, as detailed in a post from the department.
This Amber Alert was triggered by an abductor, identified as the child’s relative, Shannon Collins. The public was asked to keep an eye out for a 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV with Maryland license plate number 8GK3445.
Residents were advised against engaging with Collins or his vehicle.
Not long after the alert was spread throughout the county, a group of friends spotted a gray SUV weaving through traffic and began documenting it.
In a video shared on TikTok, the friend’s excitement reached a peak when they recognized the vehicle, prompting cheers from the group.
Eventually, the SUV stopped at a red light, allowing them to capture a clear view of the license plate, confirming it matched the Amber Alert details.
The brief 13-second clip showed the friends tailing the vehicle until police arrived and arrested Collins.
Upon his arrest, one of the friends expressed gratitude for leading police to the suspect, while another questioned why Collins thought he could escape.
The police later commended the community’s role in helping with the situation.
“Thanks to our engaged citizens, the Amber Alert vehicle was located,” the department posted on X. They noted that residents contacted the Maryland State Police, who relayed information to Prince George’s County Police through their communication system.
Authorities quickly found the vehicle based on the tip and successfully apprehended the driver. Fortunately, the child was unharmed, though details about the child’s relationship to Collins remained unclear.
In a follow-up TikTok video, one friend mentioned their motivation for reporting the sighting was out of genuine concern, not for social media attention. Comments from viewers praised their actions, emphasizing the importance of community vigilance.
Reflecting on past experiences related to Amber alerts, some commenters expressed deep appreciation for the group’s swift response, highlighting how crucial it can be.
