

Joshua Freeman, CP24.com





A three-month-old baby boy who was the subject of an Amber Alert was found safe and reunited with his parents Sunday evening after a frightening ordeal.

It all started with a vehicle theft in the Albion Road and Highway 27 area in Etobicoke at around 3:45 p.m.

According to police, the boy’s father had left a grey four-door 1997 Toyota Camry running with the child inside as he ran into the flea market. When he returned, he found someone had stolen the car. He tried to block the vehicle and was slightly injured in the process. He chased after it briefly, but quickly lost sight of it.

Police said it was not clear if the suspect driver was aware that there was a baby in the car.

An Amber Alert was issued for the boy by Ontario Provincial police at around 5:15 p.m. after Toronto police launched a search for the vehicle.

At round 7:30 p.m., police said they had found the vehicle and the baby and that the child was safe.

According to police, the vehicle was spotted in a parking lot near Dixon and Martin Grove roads by a hotel worker who saw the Amber Alert notice on TV and called police.

“I believe it was a member of public that did find the car and the child,” Det. Rich Petrie said. “Thankfully with the Amber Alert there were a lot of people who were notified and were helping us.”

Petrie said the suspect driver did not call police after ditching the vehicle and could face a number of charges, including failing to provide the necessities of life and dangerous driving.

The suspect is described as a white male between 40 and 45 years of age. He stands five-foot-11 with a medium build and short blonde hair and was wearing a backpack. Police said he is still outstanding.