Missing 7-year-old girl in Sherburne County found safe after Amber Alert
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Authorities say a 7-year-old girl reported missing from Sherburne County was found safe after an extensive search and Amber Alert on Wednesday night.
“The child was located safe by police and a suspect is in custody. Thank you to everyone who assisted in searching,” the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reported just after 1 a.m. Thursday.
Commander Ben Zawacki with the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office told reporters Thursday morning that callers initially reported the girl missing around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. In alerts issued Wednesday night, authorities had said the girl was last seen getting off the school bus around 3:55 p.m. on the west side of the city of Zimmerman.
Zawacki said law enforcement approached a vehicle they suspected was involved just before 1 a.m.
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Officers stopped the vehicle in the Albert Lea area and arrested a 28-year-old man, according to a statement from the Albert Lea Police Department. The seven-year-old was also in the car.
She was taken to the hospital for evaluation, and later released to her family. Zawacki said he did not have further information about any possible injuries to the child.
Zawacki said the man suspected of kidnapping the child was a stranger, but that the two had a “social media tie.” He said law enforcement are still investigating the nature of any connection between them.
“We tell parents to monitor the social media use by their children, especially young children,” Zawacki said. “There's just way too much access by people that would want to do harm.”
The suspect has not yet been charged. Sherburne County Attorney Dawn Nyhus said her office is reviewing information for possible charges as the investigation continues.
As word of the missing child spread, there was a large community response of people volunteering to help search. At one point, the sheriff’s office reported that “we have more volunteers than we need.”
After the girl was found, officials with the Zimmerman/Livonia Fire District posted that “we went door to door and canvassed every feasible area; but we were not alone. Hundreds of people from our community and surrounding communities came out to help search. Some walked. Others drove. All showed up.”
“We didn’t need to know her. As responders, parents, and neighbors, we refused to stop until she was found.”
