PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A 6-year-old girl has been found safe Thursday morning after a man released from Providence Hospital on a police officer’s hold stole her family’s minivan with her still inside, police said.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, the girl’s parents had driven to the hospital in Northeast Portland for treatment and parked in front of the Emergency Room entrance. While the driver walked around the van to help his wife into a wheelchair, another man jumped into the running car and took off.
Officers were called to the hospital at 7:48 a.m. after security reported the minivan had been stolen. While they were on the way, officers learned a 6-year-old girl was inside the van when it was taken and they requested backup.
Security staff identified the man as 26-year-old Colton Ian Suckow. PPB said he had just been released from the hospital after a police officer’s hold and was waiting for a cab.
Police said the cab company told them where Suckow wanted to go. Officers headed that way and around 8:40 a.m., authorities said they found the van parked near the corner of SE 54th Avenue and SE Mitchell Street with Suckow walking back to the vehicle.
Suckow was arrested and police found the 6-year-old girl safe inside the minivan.
PPB said detectives are currently investigating the case but the bureau believes it is “most likely” Suckow will be charged with second-degree kidnapping and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.