Child inside stolen vehicle in Brownsville, Brooklyn, found safe; suspect charged
34-year-old Maurice Stephens was arrested for grand larceny, kidnapping and other charges
BROWNSVILLE, Brooklyn (WABC) -- A man has been arrested and charged after a car was stolen with a child still inside the vehicle in Brooklyn on Friday.
Officers responded to a 911 call of a stolen vehicle at 480 Sutter Ave. in Brownsville around 10:40 a.m.
When officers arrived, they were informed by a 32-year-old parent that their 2008 Nissan Pathfinder, which was left running at the location, was stolen with their 2-year-old boy in the back seat of the car.
The parent was inside a deli at the time.
Security footage shows a man, identified as 34-year-old Brooklyn resident Maurice Stephens, who had been standing in front of the car, walk behind it, get inside and drive off around 10:30 a.m.
"I saw a bunch of cars coming racing down here, and I saw them screech over here," said witness Terry Orellana.
Stephens didn't make it very far.
Police caught up to the SUV less than a mile away at Liberty Avenue and Wyona Street about 20 minutes later.
"The cops ran up to him with the guns drawn, and they threw him, and they put him on the floor, and they caught them. And everything happened so fast," said witness Miguel Rivera.
Witnesses were horrified after learning a 2-year-old was inside the car as this was all unfolding.
"Are you kidding me? My, my, everything. Everything around me. Just frozen. I mean, that's terrible. That's terrible," Rivera said.
The 2-year-old was found safe, and was taken to the hospital to be checked out.
A distraught parent walked out of the 75th Precinct in Brooklyn Friday afternoon, after the nightmare that unfolded just hours prior.
"I'm not ok, I'm not ok at all," the parent said. "I'm glad I got my baby."
Stephens has now been charged with grand larceny in the fourth degree, kidnapping in the second degree, criminal possession of stolen property and endangering the welfare of a child.
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