Child Abducted In SUV Stolen By Teen Who Was Released From Jail That Same Day: Police

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A 3-year-old boy was reunited with his family about two hours after the running SUV he was sitting in was stolen from a gas station.

An Amber Alert was issued for the 3-year-old who was sitting in his grandfather's vehicle that was parked and running at the Royal Farms gas station in the 5300 block of Ritchie Marlboro Road in Upper Marlboro Thursday night. The 3-year-old was in the stolen vehicle when it was involved in a hit-and-run two hours later in the area of 56th Avenue and Hamilton Street in Riverdale. The driver was able to describe the vehicle to Prince George's Police and they linked it to the report of the stolen vehicle from Upper Marlboro.

Officers responded to the area and, with the assistance of the Prince George's Police Aviation Unit, found the SUV abandoned in the 5300 block of Farragut Street in the Riverdale area. The child was alone in the vehicle. He was unharmed. Officers continued to search for the suspect, who was located and arrested at approximately 8:35 p.m.

Ariel Florentino-Galeas of Hyattsville has been charged with kidnapping, reckless endangerment, theft, unauthorized removal of a motor vehicle and additional charges. He is in the custody of the Department of Corrections.

According to WTOP, Florentino-Galeas had been arrested then released from the county jail hours before he stole the SUV with the 3-year-old inside. He had been called to court for his involved in a theft that happened in Riverdale Park Feb. 13. WTOP reports that Florentino-Galeas had been charged with breaking into a work van on Hamilton Street where police say he stole a generator, drills and several nail guns. Court documents shared by WTOP show that, after his remote appearance from the county jail, Florentino-Galeas was released on his own recognizance, with a trial date set for April 3.

If anyone has information about this case, they are asked to call 301-390-2160. Callers wanting to remain anonymous can call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto a mobile device.) Refer to case number 23-0011449.