2-year-old found safe in New York, sister in custody
[anvplayer video=”5026949″ station=”998122″]
UPDATE: (11 a.m.)
John Elder, Director of Public Information of the Minneapolis Police Department, said the child was located safe within "the last 60 minutes" during a traffic stop in Syracuse, New York. He noted the New York State Police Thruway Patrol stopped 26-year-old Amina Mohamed’s vehicle. She was taken into custody while the child was put in protective custody.
Elder said they are actively working on getting the family reunited. He also noted some inaccuracies in Amina’s age that were sent out earlier, to which he corrected she is 26, not 27.
Elder said that only "one part" of the investigation into the 2-year-old’s whereabouts pointed them to the east coast, as they initially believed from interviewing those who are close to the older sister and toddler that they may have been heading to Massachusetts to attend a college lecture.
"Sometimes it comes down to that being in the right place at the right time," said New York State Trooper Tara McCormick. "With all the worry it caused, we were glad that we were able to locate her in good health."
UPDATE: (10:25 a.m.)
[Courtesy of the New York State Police]
As of 10:25 a.m., John Elder, Director of Public Information of the Minneapolis Police Department, tells KSTP the 2-year-old girl has been located safely outside of the state. He did not give more details on her whereabouts.
A press conference is expected to be held at City Hall at 11 a.m.
Police in Minneapolis are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing 2-year-old.
Minneapolis police said the girl — Nasteha Mohamed — was last seen in the area of the 1400 block of Marshall Street Northeast at about 2:50 p.m. Monday.
She was last seen wearing brown pants, a brown shirt and a brown sweater. Police believe her older sister, 27-year-old Amina Mohamed, took Nasteha.
Police said Amina has had issues with mental instability and bouts of paranoia, and authorities believe Nasteha may be in danger.
Amina was last seen wearing a brown skirt, black sweater and a gray scarf. She’s described as being 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing around 145 pounds and having black hair and brown eyes.
Police said Amina may be attempting to take her sister out of the state, possibly toward Massachusetts, and is likely in a gold, 2013 Chevrolet Equinox with the Minnesota license plate number ECG917.
According to MPD, officers are working with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which also sent out a nationwide alert for the Equinox. However, the BCA determined this case doesn’t rise to the level of an Amber Alert.
Anyone with information on Nasteha or Amina is asked to call 911 immediately.