Police found a young child Tuesday afternoon about three hours after they reported her father took her from a Savannah day care without permission.
Malaysia Robertson was found by officers in good condition at a residence on the 1000 block of Elliot Avenue, said Eunicia Baker, Savannah-Chatham police spokeswoman. Police arrested the girl’s father, 21-year-old McCoy Robertson III.
Robertson was charged with terroristic threats and acts and kidnapping.
Police earlier said he kidnaped the girl from day care center on the 800 block of West Bowden Street about 12:30 p.m, after getting into a confrontation with staff there.
Robertson, who did not have parental rights for the child, arrived at the day care and attempted to take her, said police spokesman Julian Miller.
Staff members resisted, and a struggle ensued.
Staff followed Robertson, who succeeded in taking his child, on foot but eventually lost sight of him, Miller said.
Police launched a massive response to the incident, which went out as a kidnapping call. Patrol officers from all five precincts were involved, as well as crime suppression unit officers, special victims unit detectives, the K-9 unit and a helicopter patrol.
A crime suppression unit officer from Islands Precinct received information the girl may be located in the house on Elliot, Miller said, and drove to the home to scope it out.
After observing the child from a distance, more officers were called to the scene, where they surrounded the home and were able to recover the girl.
Robertson was placed into custody at the scene, Miller said. It wasn’t immediately clear why he took the child to that house.
The child, who was unharmed, was reunited with her mother at police headquarters on Habersham Street.
No further information was available Tuesday evening.