PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. (WSVN) - Police located an 8-month-old girl who had been missing since Tuesday at a home in Pembroke Pines and took the infant’s mother into custody.
An AMBER Alert for Amelia Martinez was first issued Wednesday morning, triggering a statewide search for her.
The search would lead to a SWAT operation in a Pembroke Pines neighborhood off U.S. 27, near Johnson Street.
“We saw the AMBER Alert on my phone this morning,” said an area resident.
“I’m very surprised it’s here in this community,” said another neighbor.
7Skyforce hovered above Amelia’s mother, 34-year-old Arys Martinez, as she was detained by SWAT team members.
Davie Police also confirmed that the infant is safe.
“A SWAT member carried the child, and then, a couple minutes later, they brought out the woman in handcuffs,” said an area resident.
According to the alert, Amelia had been last been seen Tuesday near the 4900 block of Southwest 148th Avenue in Davie with her mother.
Officials said the infant was reportedly dropped off at a day care by her grandmother when Amelia’s father picked her up around 1:40 p.m. and gave the baby to her mother.
Neither of Amelia’s parents has custody of their daughter, officials told 7News.
Police remained at the Pembroke Pines home until at least 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
The staff of the day care where Amelia had been dropped off declined to comment.
It remains unknown whether Arys will be facing any charges.
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