MENIFEE (CNS) – A woman was arrested Sunday on suspicion of parental
child abduction in Menifee, authorities said.
The incident happened around 7:10 p.m. on Saturday when the Menifee
Police Department received a call regarding a parental abduction in violation
of a child custody order.
Two children, a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old, were being placed in a
relative’s car during a court-mandated supervised child custody exchange near
the 29000 block of Antelope Road to be returned to their father when their
mother allegedly entered the vehicle and fled the location in violation of the
order, police said.
Family members were able to track the woman via her cell phone, and
she was located near the area of the 215 and 60 freeways by deputies from the
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. The woman allegedly failed to yield when
deputies attempted to conduct a vehicle stop and led them on a pursuit.
The suspect continued into the San Diego area, where officers from the
Escondido Police Department took over the pursuit. Authorities said she was
able to evade officers, crossed the border and entered into Mexico.
Authorities notified U.S. Customs and Border Protection and she was
detained by Customs officials when she tried to drive back into the United
States around 8 a.m. Sunday.
The children were found unharmed and were released to the father.
Menifee police officers responded and took custody of the woman.
No further information was immediately available.
Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.
