ATHENS, Ga. — Police are looking for the suspect who stole a woman's car with her 11-month-old daughter in it. But a new video shows a bit of relief the moment officers finally found the child.
The incident was first reported on Sunday around 7 p.m. in the area of Windy Hill Place. Athens-Clarke County officers arrived to what they soon learned was not only a car theft but also a kidnapping.
The victim told them that her 2001 Ford Taurus had been stolen from the driveway and her child was inside in a car seat. From there, the call went out to surrounding counties regarding a stolen car along with the information that the child could still be inside.
After an area-wide search, police finally found the car in the 1700 block of Epps Bridge Road in neighboring Oconee County. Thankfully the baby was still inside - and unharmed.
Body camera video from the scene shows a very upset baby - but two overjoyed officers. One video shows an officer getting the baby out of the abandoned car.
"Hey," he said softly upon getting the baby out of a car seat. "How are you? Are you OK?"
Another officer's camera catches the moment another officer trying to console the now-confused - and pretty upset - little baby.
"She said it's cold," one officer said as the child began crying in another officer's arms. "Here we go, we're going to put up your hood, keep you dry and warm."
The baby stopped crying almost immediately.
With the baby's discovery, the most important part of the case has no doubt been solved. But the investigation isn't over yet.
Police are now asking the public to help them find the man responsible for the car theft that endangered a child in the first place. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Detective Carroll at 706-613-3330 Ext. 144.