Convicted child molester arrested for allegedly kidnapping 1-month-old child and stealing car
04/10/2023 12:58 pm PDT
VANCOUVER, Wash. (TCD) -- A convicted child molester was taken into custody over the weekend after he allegedly stole a couple’s Audi and drove off in it with their 1-month-old child in the backseat.
On April 8 at 7:49 a.m., Clark County deputies responded to a kidnapping call at 1501 NE 99th St. and spoke with a man who said a suspect took his vehicle. Deputies reportedly found the Audi near Northeast 88th Street and Highway 99 with the child still in the backseat.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Mario Andrews and said he fled the scene after leaving the car. Paramedics looked over the child for injuries, then handed him back to his parents, who The Oregonian/Oregon Live identified as Ashley and John Lingle.
Andrews reportedly used John Lingle’s credit cards at the Vancouver Mall. Clark County deputies and Vancouver Police Department officers went to the mall and arrested Andrews on charges of theft of a motor vehicle, second-degree kidnapping, and reckless endangerment.
Ashley told The Oregonian/Oregon Live, "I thought I was never going to see my son again."
Deputies said they detained a man "for a brief period" but let him go when they "determined he was not involved."
According to The Oregonian/Oregon Live, John and Ashley Lingle were unhitching their coffee and smoothie cart from their car when Andrews allegedly jumped in the vehicle and sped off. Andrews allegedly purchased something at Foot Locker, so John and Ashley drove to the mall and found him. John reportedly tackled Andrews when he located him.
Clark County Jail records show Andrews also faces a charge of failing to register as a sex offender. According to KOIN-TV, Andrews was convicted of child molestation in 2005.
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