UPDATE:
9:00 a.m.
Police in Sturgis, Michigan have made an arrest outside of the home where the children associated with this morning’s Amber Alert were taken last night. The suspect matches the description of 37 year-old Fernando Cruz. A police negotiator was called in to the police situation, according to Marisa Oberle from ABC 57, who was at the scene.
The children are safe and in custody.
Michigan State Police have cancelled the Amber Alert.
ORIGINAL STORY:
An AMBER Alert has been issued for three children in Sturgis who police believe were taken from their home by their father.
Investigators say the father, Fernando Cruz, is considered armed and dangerous and that he made comments that he was going to harm both himself and the children.
Cruz is accused of taking the children from their home around 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 29, in the 100 block of Pioneer Street in Sturgis, in St. Joseph County, Michigan.
The children are identified as Aldo Cruz, 2, who was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt and a diaper; Matteo Nieves, 4, who was wearing red shorts and a blue t-shirt; and Chelsey Lopez, 5, who was wearing a pink t-shirt and blue pajama pants.
Cruz was last seen driving a BLACK 2009 Chevy Traverse with a Michigan license plate of DWH9204. That vehicle was previously described as being maroon in color, but the Michigan State Police say it is, in fact, black.
Indiana State Police report that they pursued a vehicle on the Toll Road Thursday morning that matched the description, but the car was not captured. Police are also uncertain if the vehicle was Cruz’s, because they were unable to get the license plate.
Anybody with information is asked to call the Sturgis Police Department at 269-651-3231, St. Joseph County Central Dispatch 269 -467-4195 or 911.
