Siskiyou County Sheriff Jon Lopey spoke to the Siskiyou Daily News at approximately 11:30 a.m. Thursday morning, two hours after the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office made a successful arrest of alleged kidnapper and former Tennessee teacher Tad Cummins; Cummins allegedly kidnapped his former student, 15 year old Elizabeth Thomas.

Siskiyou County Sheriff Jon Lopey spoke to the Siskiyou Daily News at approximately 11:30 Thursday morning, two hours after the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office made a successful arrest of alleged kidnapper and former Tennessee teacher Tad Cummins; Cummins allegedly kidnapped his former student, 15 year old Elizabeth Thomas. Cummins has reportedly been on the run for more than a month since the alleged kidnapping. Thomas is said to have been with Cummins during that period. An amber alert was issued for Thomas after she was reported missing in March. Lopey related that Cummins and Thomas were located together at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, at a cabin in Cecilville.

Lopey related that the events leading up to the arrest were set in motion by multiple calls that the SCSO received from members of the public, alleging that a Nissan Rogue, believed to be Cummins' vehicle, was seen in Cecilville.

Lopey then coordinated with his officers to go to the location and investigate the claims, a process which began Wednesday evening, he said. The officers were able to confirm that the vehicle did indeed belong to Cummins. The SCSO subsequently arrested Cummins on Thursday morning without incident, according to Lopey.

Sheriff Lopey spoke to the Siskiyou Daily News as he was en route from Cecilville – a small, rural town on the edge of Siskiyou County, in northern California – on his way to meet with federal agents at a separate location. Lopey stated that Cummins will be booked sometime today at the Siskiyou County Jail before he is extradited to Tennessee at a date that is to be determined.

Thomas was allegedly with Cummins in the cabin; Lopey said it appeared that she was unharmed. Siskiyou County law enforcement is working with federal agencies to get Thomas safely back to her family. Lopey stated that a press release from the SCSO is in the works, and will be released as soon as possible.