Amber Alert called off after 2-year-old found safe

An Amber Alert for a 2-year-old who had gone missing near the Great Lakes Naval Station Saturday was called off after she was found with the stepfather who had allegedly abducted her.

The stepfather, LaDerrick Thomas, 23, of Auburn, Ala., was captured by Indiana authorities on Saturday afternoon, following a prolonged chase on Interstate 65 near Louisville.

Indiana State Police said charges are pending on Thomas, who has been taken to the Clark County Hospital for observation.

The child has been turned over to the Indiana Division of Family and Children, where she will be held until she can be safely returned to family.

"The little girl has been found, and she's safe," said Ken Kronk, a Navy spokesman.

Before she was found, the girl had last been seen early Saturday in a black 2000 Ford Explorer with Alabama license plates, according to authorities.

At nearly 1 p.m., Indiana State Police Radio dispatched an Amber Alert that had been issued earlier from Great Lakes. The dispatch stated that the girl had been abducted from family members by Thomas.

At 1:04 p.m., Austin Town Police Officer Robert Baughman, who was looking for the vehicle, spotted it headed southbound on Interstate 65, around the 34 mile marker, in Scott County.

Indiana State Police said the officer got behind the vehicle and requested backup to make a felony traffic stop. Troopers from the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg and an officer from the Sellersburg Town Police responded.

The decision was made to make the traffic stop at the nine mile marker on Interstate 65 in Clark County, police said.

When officers stopped the vehicle and approached it, Thomas refused to open the doors, police said. After a few minutes, he was finally persuaded by officers to open the doors, and the child was taken from the vehicle safely.