Wauwatosa police: Mother, father expected to be charged after Amber Alert for Deangelo Gaines
WAUWATOSA -- Wauwatosa police say the mother and father of a 22-month-old boy for whom an Amber Alert was issued last week are expected to be criminally charged this week. Police say they have determined the mother of the child intentionally misled police as they investigated this case -- and provided a false account of what occurred.
Deangelo Gaines
The Amber Alert was issued Thursday, December 17th for 22-month-old Deangelo Gaines.
Police have now referred charges to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office for Gaines' mother and father.
Police have referred a misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer for the 21-year-old mother.
Three felony charges have been referred to the DA's Office for the 21-year-old father -- including two counts of fleeing/eluding an officer, and one count of second degree recklessly endangering safety.
The Amber Alert was issued around 11:00 a.m. last Thursday. The child was recovered safely within an hour.
The frantic search for the 22-month-old boy began in the parking lot of a JCPenney store in Wauwatosa around 6:30 a.m. Thursday.
JCPenney Furniture Outlet in Wauwatosa
"We received a 911 call here at the Wauwatosa Police Department from a witness who saw what they described as a male beating a female," Lt. Brian Zalewski with the Wauwatosa Police Department said.
Police responded to the scene on W. Burleigh, and they say the man took off in what was later determined to be a stolen vehicle -- leading police on a chase which was eventually called off by police.
It turned out, the man wasn't the only person in the vehicle.
"The one-and-a-half-year-old child -- he was in the vehicle at the time that this domestic violence incident occurred and in the vehicle at the time that the suspect fled from Wauwatosa police," Zalewski said.
Later Thursday morning, an Amber Alert was issued for Deangelo Gaines.
Amber Alert for Deangelo Gaines
"My phone exploded with everyone calling," Jovan Gaines, Deangelo's cousin said.
Jovan Gaines said at first, he couldn't believe the news that his baby cousin was missing.
"But then I went online and I saw his picture and I said 'Oh my God, that is him,'" Gaines said.
Jovan Gaines
The Amber Alert was canceled within an hour -- after the suspect vehicle was spotted near 49th and Center in Milwaukee.
Deangelo Gaines was found at a home nearby.
Police say at least one adult was also there -- including the boy's father.
"The child was safe, unharmed, and not any type of danger. The child is currently with a family member," Zalewski said.
"I thank God that he was found," Jovan Gaines said.
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