When a highway patrol trooper stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in Kansas, he had no idea he was about to discover a 6-year-old girl who had been missing for over a month.
The traffic stop led to the arrest of two men, along with the safe removal of the child from the vehicle.
“This is an incredible story that highlights the unpredictable nature of a trooper’s job and the real impact they can have on people’s lives,” the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) said in a statement released over the weekend.
Highlights
- A traffic stop turned into a rescue mission in Kansas when a highway patrol trooper stopped an SUV.
- A 6-year-old girl, missing for about a month, was found inside the vehicle.
- Two men, also in the car, were arrested.
- “The trauma she had to go through… troopers are the real MVPs,” a social media user said.
A highway patrol trooper in Kansas had no idea a traffic stop would lead to a rescue mission
Image credits: PhotoSpirit/stock.adobe.com (Not the actual photo)
The routine traffic stop, which later turned into a rescue mission, took place in February.
The trooper, who is with the KHP, was assigned to the criminal interdiction unit at the time and had stopped the vehicle over a traffic violation.
During the traffic stop, the trooper found two men in their ’60s inside the vehicle, along with the 6-year-old girl.
Image credits: Kansas Highway Patrol
The trooper eventually discovered that the front seat passenger had a warrant for his arrest from a different state for kidnapping a 6-year-old girl about a month before.
The child inside the car was observed to be roughly the same age as the girl who was reported missing.
“The driver had a criminal history to include homicide and numerous weapons violations over the years,” the KHP said.
The trooper realized the child was the same girl who was missing for about a month
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“After the trooper and a deputy from a local sheriff’s office quickly secured both the driver and passenger, the trooper safely removed the little girl from the vehicle,” the group added.
Initially, the child gave the trooper a fake name and date of birth.
It is believed the missing girl was “coached” to present a different identity to avoid the men from being arrested.
“Our trooper calmed the girl down and got her to tell him her real name,” a statement said
Image credits: Kansas Highway Patrol
“This 6-year-old girl gave the trooper a false name and date of birth, after having been coached to do so, in an attempt to keep the adult out of jail,” KHP revealed.
“Ultimately, our trooper calmed the girl down and got her to tell him her real name.”
Officers eventually confirmed that the child was the same girl who had been kidnapped. She had been under the suspect’s watch for about a month.
The two men in their ’60s were arrested following the traffic stop
Image credits: Kansas Highway Patrol
The girl was unharmed, and the two male occupants in the vehicle were arrested.
“Thank you for the outpouring of support for the Kansas Highway Patrol and for the trooper involved,” KHP said.
Netizens expressed gratitude for the trooper’s actions while also voicing concern about the ordeal the child endured.
Image credits: nareekarn/stock.adobe.com (Not the actual photo)
“‘Unharmed,’” one said. “They don’t know WHAT that little girl's been through.”
“The trauma she had to go through… troopers are the real MVPs,” read a second comment.
“I hope each of those men live the rest of their life suffering and then suffer in hell,” a third said, while a fourth wrote, “Our law enforcement are absolute heroes. You saved this baby!!! Thank you for your brave service!”
The trooper was hailed as a hero for his actions, which led to the girl’s rescue
Image credits: kshighwaypatrol
“Saved this little girl from so much emotional and physical trauma,” another wrote. “Thankfully, she can go back home and see her family and have a better life. Poor girl, the trauma she must have gone through.”
“This trooper is a real-life hero! He likely saved this little girl’s life. God bless the Kansas Highway Patrol and our wonderful law enforcement!” one said.
Image credits: Nomad_Soul/stock.adobe.com (Not the actual photo)
Netizens wondered about the circumstances that led to the girl going missing.
However, the KHP revealed that they were unable to share details about the case.
“We have received many requests for more details of the stop,” they said. “Unfortunately, we are unable to release any further details of this incident so that we can continue to protect the identity of the child and integrity of open cases. “
“We appreciate your understanding as we continue our investigation.”
Officials said they couldn’t share further details about the missing case
Image credits: Kansas Highway Patrol
KHP Capt. Candice Breshears told The Capital-Journal that they have released all the information they possibly could with respect to the incident.
“We can tell you that it occurred in February, but we are unable to release anything more so that we can continue to protect the identity of the child and the integrity of open cases,” Breshears told the outlet.
“Thank you for your understanding as we work to continue to protect this child.”
“Perfect timing for the trooper to be in that place at the right time,” one social media user said
