Colorado man arrested in Utah allegedly abducted California child
SALINA, Utah (ABC4) — A Colorado man was taken into custody in Utah after he allegedly abducted a 10-year-old girl from California on Sunday, March 17, according to authorities.
Joshua Michael Stehle, 29, of Thornton, Colo. was taken into custody and held at the Sevier County Jail while he awaits extradition.
The Salina City Police Department (SPD) said it received an attempt to locate a gold 2000 Chevy Silverado pickup driving with a temporary Colorado tag. The vehicle and its driver were reportedly described as suspects in the abduction of a 10-year-old girl from Kern County, California.
Family of 21-year-old who was possibly abducted seeks answers
An officer with SPD reportedly spotted the Chevy Silverado driving east on I-70 near Salina and made a traffic stop. From there, he was able to safely take Stehle into custody and rescue the 10-year-old girl, just hours after she was reported missing.
The girl was taken into the custody of the Utah Division of Child and Family Services and has since been reunited with her family in California.
Meanwhile, detectives with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office have been working closely with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office in California to further the investigation.
No further details have been publicly released.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story previously misdescribed the victim as an 11-year-old girl. California police are now reporting she was 10 years old.
Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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