AVONDALE, AZ — Avondale police are recognizing a group of men who helped locate a 2-year-old girl who was the subject of an Amber Alert on Sunday morning.
The toddler was found at a QuikTrip near 27th Avenue and Thomas Road in Phoenix thanks to a store employee and a moving crew who were in the right place at the right time.
Police gave awards to citizens Skyler Emmons, Robert Hernandez, Ralph Vollmert, Christopher Dixon, Kevin Place, Kevin Kimes, Gerardo Galacia, Kobe Brown, and Michael Macallum for their roles in helping recover the child.
Watch the full presentation in the video player above.
The woman accused of kidnapping the child, 23-year-old Marina Noreiga, was taken into custody and is facing charges.
Noreiga allegedly took the girl from her family's home on Friday night.
The pair was spotted on surveillance video in Maricopa on Saturday before the two were eventually located in Phoenix on Sunday.
In a statement on Monday, Avondale police thanked the community members who jumped in to help make sure the toddler was found.
"We would like to once again take the opportunity to thank our media partners, the community, and state, local, and federal law enforcement partners, who all played an instrumental role in locating Kehlani. We especially thank the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s Amber Alert system and the employees of Camelback Moving Inc. for their watchful eye and caring actions that brought Kehlani home."
