MONROE, N.C. -- Monroe police say agencies in North Carolina and South Carolina worked around the clock to arrest two suspects and bring a 4-month-old baby home safe.
"You can't fathom having a 4-month-old child snatched. Regardless of the situation between the mother and father, the child is innocent and doesn't know any better," said Monroe police Capt. Bryan Gilliard.
Monroe police say 4-month-old Jalleel Howard is safe now after they caught up with 41-year-old Lonnie Buchanan Jr. early Wednesday morning across the South Carolina state line. They say Buchanan claims he's the child's father, although another man's name is on the baby's birth certificate.
"The Chesterfield County Sheriff Department located him in a wooded area. He surrendered the baby to the deputies there and he was taken into custody by the Chesterfield County Sheriff Office," said Gilliard.
Police also arrested 23-year-old Beulah Steen, as Buchanan's accomplice, for kidnapping and assault.
"She was the individual in the parking lot with him that actually assaulted the baby's mother. At this point, I'm not sure of their relationship. We're trying to tie those pieces of the puzzle together," said Gilliard.
Police say there were some basic needs and care given to Jalleel during the kidnapping, but the 4-month-old still needed to be checked out at Carolinas Medical Center-Union.
"They were able to seek shelter during the worst part of the storm, but the baby was in the elements for a short period of time," said Gilliard.
Buchanan is being held on $250,000 bond, while Steen is being held on $50,000 bond.
