Child found after being taken in stolen SUV in Oakhurst, suspect arrested

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A two-year-old boy who was inside an SUV when it was stolen outside an Oakhurst hair salon has been found safe.

Around 12:30 Friday afternoon, the Madera County Sheriff's Office received a call for a missing two-year-old boy who was in the backseat of a GMC Yukon on Highway 41 and Road 426.

A nearby business owner tells Action News the mother was getting her hair done at Sage Hair Salon when it was stolen.

The Madera County Sheriff's Office says shortly after the call, law enforcement spotted the car in North Fork.

"Forest service spotted the car, started following, deputies got there and a pursuit ensued and we chased him for just a short distance," said Commander Bill Ward with the Madera County Sheriff's Office.

A two-year-old boy who was inside an SUV when it was stolen outside an Oakhurst hair salon has been found safe.

Officials say the chase ended near Manzanita Lake and Road 222 when the suspect, now identified as Chase Williams of Oakhurst, got out of the SUV and jumped into nearby brush.

Williams was found hours later and taken into custody.

Deputies then became extremely concerned when they didn't see the child in the Yukon, but he was found a short time later.

"Somebody who lives in the area saw the child walking and basically grabbed him and called us, the child is fine. The child is not hurt, scared, but not hurt, and was reunited with his mother shortly after that," said Commander Ward.

Amanda Coll has lived in Oakhurst her entire life and says this is not something she expected to happen in her hometown.

"Shocked because this is a small town and we expect it to be safe," said Coll.

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