Infants Safe after Amber Alert

By Linda Williams/TWN Staff Writer
A mother left her two youngsters, ages 6 months and 1 year, sleeping in her black pickup truck Saturday afternoon with the engine and air-conditioner running in front of Contreras Meat Market on Talmage Road east of Ukiah. When she returned from shopping, the truck and her children were gone.
The mom, Rocio Oliveros, called 9-1-1 about 3:30 p.m. with temperatures topping 101 degrees, and the Ukiah California Highway Patrol initiated a statewide amber alert about an hour later, describing the truck and the missing infants. The Mendocino County Sheriff's Department initiated a reverse 9-1-1 call alerting homes and businesses in the Ukiah valley about the search for the missing children. An extensive search along area highways was conducted by every available law enforcement agency, including several helicopters.
The amber alert sign on Highway 101 caught the eye of a Redwood Valley man, who remembered seeing a pickup matching the search description parked on Oman Road. He drove back to the abandoned pickup, noticed the two children inside, and immediately called police at about 6:15 p.m. The good Samaritan opened the truck doors to allow air into the overheated cab. Saturday's temperatures in Ukiah at 6 p.m. were still above 100 degrees.
When found, the missing children were strapped into their car seats with the windows rolled up and the engine off, apparently out of gas, say police. The youngsters were dehydrated and very distressed, they were taken to UkiahValley Medical Center for examination as a precaution. Police estimate the thieves had abandoned the children and vehicle about two hours before they were recovered and credit the good Samaritan with saving the children's lives.
The CHP is continuing to investigate the theft and abduction, but have not made an arrest. Police are asking the public to help them locate the perpetrators by phoning the Mendocino County Sheriff's anonymous tip line at 467-9159 if they have any information.