Sandy Springs Father Arrested For Abducting Son

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — A Sandy Springs man was arrested in California Friday after noon after Sandy Springs Police said he reportedly took his son from school without authorization.

At 6:12 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, police said Xavier Floyd,10, was located and is safe. His father, Dederick Floyd, was taken into custody in the city of Riverside, California without incident, police said. He has been charged with felony interference with custody and will be extradited to Georgia. Xavier will be returned home to his mother.

The Sandy Springs Police Department said they wanted to thank the Southern California Special Enforcement Narcotics Unit for their assistance in bringing this case to a close.

Authorities say the parental abduction occurred Sept. 12 around 3 p.m.

Dederick, 33, entered Woodland Elementary School and took his son Xavier without authorization, police said. Dederick and Xavier left the school in an unknown vehicle.

Dederick is not the boy's custodial parent, and may be attempting to leave the state with the child, Sandy Springs Police said.