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Toddler scared and cold but unharmed after carjacking

After her mother’s car that was stolen Saturday night was found abandoned with no sign of Caraline, a massive search was begun by Albuquerque police as well as volunteers in an attempt to locate the missing toddler. Off-duty officers came in to help with the search.

APD spokesman Simon Dorbik said the search was emotional for the officers, many of whom have children of their own. He said, “These types of calls that come in, those are the No. 1 priority call a police officer is ever going to respond to. Our worst fear is when a car gets stolen with a kid inside.”

Around 1 a.m. Sunday, Officer Chris Poccia was moving his spotlight around an apparently vacant parking lot when he saw a purple bundle. With his lapel camera rolling, Poccia approached the little girl who was not moving. She was wearing a purple coat and kept telling the officer she was cold. The dramatic footage shows Poccia picking up the little girl and alternatively asking Caraline if she is okay and telling her she was okay. He placed her in his car and told her he had turned up the heat as far as it could go.

Poccia later said, “You could tell she was just really scared and really cold.” The girl was examined by paramedics at the scene and then taken to hospital. Although cold and scared, she was otherwise unharmed. It is believed the carjacker dropped the child off before abandoning the car several miles away.

According to Officer Daren DeArguero, Caraline’s mother stopped at a grocery store around 8:30 p.m. Saturday and went to fill up some water jugs. She left the car running and a man jumped in and drove away.

Police have surveillance video showing two men in the grocery store parking lot at the time the car was stolen and have a description of the suspect. He is described as Hispanic, between 25 and 30 years of age, 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing between 190 and 200 pounds. He has short brown hair and was wearing a dark jacket and blue jeans.

Police said they planned to interview Caraline sometime after she warmed up and was reunited with her mother.

Police are still searching for the suspect who will likely be charged with kidnapping and child abuse in addition to the carjacking charge.

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