BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – A South Florida man is facing kidnapping, grand theft and grand theft auto charges after police said he stole a car with a toddler in the back seat.
Amadis Hernandez, 33, was arrested after Boynton Beach Police said he stole a Kia Sportage at a Mobil gas station in the 800 block of Gateway Boulevard, just across the street from the Boynton Beach Police Department on Tuesday morning.
According to the police report, Hernandez took the victim’s vehicle with her purse containing $2,500, the sleeping child inside and drove toward I-95.
Officers say the suspect stopped the vehicle at the Residence Inn Hotel in Boca Raton, where he dropped off the child and left the scene.
Police later recovered the stolen vehicle near the Boca Raton Mall.
According to the police report, the Boca Raton Police Department, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and United States Marshal’s Service worked to find and later arrest Hernandez after he was identified by a witness on Wednesday.
Hernandez is being held without bond at the Palm Beach County Jail.