Two cars filled with trick-or-treating youngsters helped end a frightening night for two children abducted by their neighbor on Halloween in 2011. The Shasta County (CA) Sheriff's Office initiated an AMBER Alert for April Swartz after she took 7-year-old Michael Sandoval and his 5-year-old sister Mya fishing and never brought them home.
Shasta County Sheriff Lt. John Hubbard said they did not know the children were in danger until they interviewed the neighbors.
“We learned she was smoking meth and driving with the children, and then we knew they were in imminent danger,” said Hubbard. “Once we determined the criteria were met and made the decision the AMBER Alert went out quickly. It worked like clockwork.”
This was the first AMBER Alert for Hubbard and one of the first for California Highway Patrol Captain Greg Ferrero, who became the state's AMBER Alert Coordinator in October. “I got a call when I was on my way to a Halloween parade,” he said. “The coordination between the sheriff's office and our office was right on target. We determined the criteria were met and had the alert out in a very short time.”
Deann Nelson was driving with her nephew who was in a zombie costume when she heard the AMBER Alert on the radio and spotted the suspect's SUV. Razi Lovett was driving with his children who were dressed as Captain America, a cat, and a tiger when he saw the vehicle from the alert posted on a freeway sign.
Both motorists called 911 and followed the suspect without telling their trick-or-treaters what was going on. Deputies learned later that Swartz also saw the AMBER Alert and noticed cars were following her. She said she turned off her lights and parked her SUV and then tried to hide it with a camouflage blanket.
But the information from the citizens helped law enforcement narrow down the suspect's location, and a highway patrol helicopter eventually spotted the vehicle. Less than five hours after the alert was activated, the suspect was arrested and both children were found safe.
“It was a perfect example of what the AMBER Alert was made for,” said Hubbard. “The system works if you follow the guidelines and do not abuse it.” He said his biggest lesson learned is how important it is to quickly start investigating all missing children cases.
Ferrero said the officers and sergeants at the Emergency Notification and Tactical Alert Center deserve credit for bringing the children home safely because they activated the alert so quickly. Still, he was glad he was prepared. “I made sure I was proficient in the law and policies to ensure I was providing correct answers,” he said. “I found none of the cases are black and white. They are all different.”
As a precaution, Ferrero always keeps a reference card in his wallet with the AMBER Alert criteria and protocol.
The motorists were modest when reporters asked them about their response. “I just did what anybody else would have done,” said Nelson. “It is a great feeling,” added Lovett. “You feel like you have a responsibility for all children. It could have been my kids.”