It’s been more than 24 hours since police said a father grabbed his 3-year-old daughter away from her mother at a Wapato home, brandished a knife and fled in a minivan.
According to Wapato police, 32-year-old Jose Lopez-Madrigal waited for the mother and toddler to get home Monday afternoon, standing outside an apartment near South Kateri Lane.
When the mother arrived about 4:30 p.m. with 3-year-old Melody Lopez, police said Lopez-Madrigal asked the mother to read a note written on a cell phone he was holding.
Police said when the mother repeatedly refused, Lopez-Madrigal grabbed the girl and took off, with the mother running after him.
Lopez-Madrigal reportedly pulled out a knife and brandished it at the mother, who stopped and ran back to get help from a neighbor.
As Lopez-Madrigal was pulling away, the neighbor was able to take a picture of the blue 1999 Honda Odyssey minivan with Washington plates and license number ANH1733.
Police said the lengthy note left behind on the cell phone contains information indicating Lopez-Madrigal is suicidal. Investigators also believe Lopez-Madrigal planned to take the toddler before the incident occurred.
A little over three hours later, at about 8 p.m., Lopez-Madrigal was spotted on foot near South Wasco Avenue and West Fifth Street — about a mile from where Melody was taken.
Police believe Lopez-Madrigal was able to call someone to come pick him and the toddler up from the area.
At 8:22 p.m., authorities put out an AMBER Alert with descriptions of Lopez-Madrigal, Melody and the vehicle they were believed to be traveling in.
Shortly after, officers found Lopez-Madrigal’s minivan abandoned in a parking lot near West Fourth Street and South Yakima Avenue, a few blocks away from where he was spotted.
Wapato police: Father brandished knife, took 3-year-old from mother and ran - YakTriNews.com
