Phoenix police rescued a toddler who'd been taken from her home in the middle of the night, after bystanders saw an Amber Alert and reported seeing the missing girl, authorities said Wednesday.
Kehlani Rogers, 3, had last been seen by her parents late Friday night at their home in Avondale, about 20 miles west of Phoenix.
They reported her missing Saturday morning, prompting local authorities to issue an Amber Alert, officials said.
A tip from the public led Phoenix police to 27th Avenue and Indian School Road, where the missing little girl was found and suspect Marina Noriega was arrested, authorities said.
"The relationship between Noriega and that of Kehlani’s family, was that of a recently met acquaintance," according to a statement by Avondale Police Officer Daniel Benavidez.
The key tip came from a gas station security guard and a moving crew filling up, who saw the girl and woman and contacted police.
"Investigators worked tirelessly through the night, following up on numerous tips. Earlier this morning, a community member reported a possible sighting near 27th Avenue and Indian School Road in Phoenix," according to an Avondale police statement. "Phoenix Police responded and located Kehlani Rogers and Marina Noriega."
Noriega, 23, was booked into the Maricopa County jail on suspicion of one count of custodial interference, a class 3 felony, official said.
It wasn't immediately clear on Wednesday if she had hired or been assigned an attorney to speak on her behalf.
“I showed him the Amber Alert photo, he’s like, that’s her. That’s her. Because I swear that’s the child that she just ran past me,” moving company worker Ralph Vollmert told NBC affiliate KPNX.
The men said they were prepared to take decisive action against the woman before police responded.
“We’re going to block them in. We’re not going to let them leave," Vollmert said. "The security guard inside the store was on the phone with police department, and luckily, it didn’t take them long to respond at all."
