FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: |
October 19,
2007 |
Deputy Matt Hershey, Public
Information Officer
(602) 920-4841 |
|
|
|
U.S. Marshals
Arrest Woman Sought in Parental Abduction |
|
Phoenix, AZ – An Orlando woman
sought for the parental abduction of her three year old child was
arrested this afternoon by the U.S. Marshals Phoenix HIDTA Task
Force at her apartment at 23rd Avenue and Butler in Phoenix.
Stephanie Simon, 36, was wanted on a felony warrant by the Orange
County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando, FL for custodial interference.
In September 2006 Simon had residential custody of her child and the
biological father had court ordered visitation rights. Simon then
fled Florida without notice and on September 29, 2006 the court
amended its order granting the child’s father sole temporary and
residential custody of the child. After the abduction Investigators
solicited the assistance of the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children as well as the United States Marshals Service.
Early this morning Deputy U.S. Marshals and Task Force Officers
established surveillance on an apartment believed to be occupied by
Simon and her child, and in the early afternoon Officers observed
them exit the apartment at which time Simon was arrested without
incident. Simon was booked into the Maricopa County Jail awaiting
extradition back to Florida and the Child was placed in protective
custody.
United States Marshal David Gonzales praised the work of Deputies
and law enforcement officers adding, “The United States Marshals
Service has a special relationship with the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children, and we along with our state and
local partners will continue to use every available resource to
assist them in locating children who are the true victims of these
crimes.”
The HIDTA Task Force agencies include: United States Marshals
Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Mesa
Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Maricopa
County Probation Office, Phoenix Police Department, Chandler Police
Department and the U.S. Postal Service.
For further information about the U.S. Marshals:
www.usmarshals.gov/ |
|