Nashville man who befriended AMBER Alert subject, suspect helped in California arrest

CECILVILLE, Calif. -- (WZTV) -- Siskiyou County deputies said a Nashville man living in California who befriended Tennessee AMBER Alert suspect Tad Cummins and subject Elizabeth Thomas assisted in Cummins' arrest on Thursday.

Authorities said they received a tip about 9 p.m. Wednesday regarding Cummins vehicle, a Nissan Rogue, in the Cecilville area. Cummins, 50, was wanted for the aggravated kidnapping of his former student Thomas, 15. A nationwide BOLO [Be On the Lookout] had previously been issued for Cummins, who was also put on TBI's Top 10 Most Wanted List.

Cecilville is a rural mountainous area of the country about 68 miles from the county seat of Yreka. Griffin Barry, a Nashville man living in California, called 911 after noticing the pair staying at the cabin. According to the tip, Thomas and Cummins were staying in a cabin off of Eddy Gulch Road. There's no cellphone service in that area.

The original BOLO suggested that Cummins could be armed with two guns, which prompted the response of the tactical Special Response Team.

SRT officers established a perimeter around the cabin and arrested Cummins upon his exit from the cabin. Deputies said Barry assisted in the arrest. Cummins was taken into custody without incident. Deputies also found two loaded guns inside the cabin.

Deputies said Thomas exited the cabin behind Cummins and was she detained at the scene for her protection. Thomas appeared to be in good health, although authorities said in a news conference Thursday that she was "emotional" toward officers. She is now is custody of FBI agents at the Redding, California office. Thomas will undergo a forensic interview and receive the care that she needs.

Cummins was scheduled to be arraigned Friday at 10 a.m. PT. Deputies said Cummins is facing local charges of kidnapping and possession of stolen property. Those and other charges are pending review by Siskiyou County District Attorney Kirk Andrus.