A California woman whose daughter was taken by the state kidnapped the 2-year-old girl, police said Thursday.
Crystal Mendez was last seen with her daughter Tayana at an Oakland BART station, the San Jose Police Department said. The child was possibly taken from a residence, police said.
Hours later, the girl was found at a relative’s home in Oakland, police said. Mendez has not been found.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER THIEF TARGETED FROM CALIFORNIA IF HITT, DEAD UNDERNEATH VICTIM’S VEHICLE
California authorities said Crystal Mendez abducted her 2-year-old daughter Tayana yesterday in San Jose. (San Jose Police Department)
Mendez is a “heavy drug user” and has ties to San Francisco’s Tenderloin District, a center of drug consumption and sale.
“Due to drug use and arrests, she was deemed unfit to care for her son. Child was placed with a guardian by Family Services and the suspect abducted her,” reads a police tweet.
Mendez has a “Dante” tattoo on his back, authorities said.
Police released footage of Mendez and the girl leaving an apartment in San Jose. She is seen pushing a stroller out of the building.
“Help us find Tayana,” the department said in a tweet.
Images released by police show Crystal Mendez pushing a stroller with her daughter, whom she allegedly kidnapped. (San Jose Police Department)
Mendez is 5-foot-1, 150 pounds, and has long brown hair and brown eyes, according to a police description. He was wearing a white hooded jacket, black skinny jeans with ripped knees, and dark colored sneakers.
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The boy was wearing a white jacket with pink sleeves and blue pants, police said.
