Mississippi Fugitive Found At Birmingham Gas Station

BIRMINGHAM, AL - A fugitive from Mississippi who was accused of kidnapping his niece was found asleep in his car at a Birmingham gas station Thursday. James Slade, 28, was found just before noon when witnesses reported a young girl wandering alone near the Pilot station is west Birmingham.

An Alabama Media Group report said Slade stole his mother’s Nissan Sentra before kidnapping the girl in Mississippi’s Lamar County Wednesday. He also took his mother’s cell phone, said Lamar County Sheriff Danny Rigel.

Just before noon Thursday, Birmingham police received a 911 call about the 6-year-old girl walking around by herself, said West Precinct commander Capt. Scott Thurmond. That led to Slade being found asleep in the vehicle at the Pilot Travel Center on Bankhead Highway.

The girl was uninjured and placed into the custody of the Jefferson County Department of Human Resources until she could be reunited with her guardian.

Slade is being held in the Jefferson County Jail without bond, but has not been charged with any crime by Birmingham police.