Dad Charged With Kidnapping After NJ Amber Alert

VINELAND, NJ — The man accused of taking his 7-month-old daughter and prompting an Amber Alert in South Jersey and Pennsylvania now faces additional charges, officials said.

Ramon B. Rivera Jr., 22, of Vineland faces new charges of first-degree kidnapping and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.

Officials also added a third-degree charge of terroristic threats against Rivera on Thursday afternoon. Jail records show he is being held in the Cumberland County Correctional Facility with no bail set, pursuant to NJ law.

Vineland Police were searching for Rivera on Wednesday evening after receiving a report that he fled with his daughter from the area of the Cumberland Mall. Related article — Infant Safe, Father Charged After NJ Amber Alert: Officials

Vineland detectives contacted Rivera and verified the child was in custody, but he did not return to the city with the child voluntarily, according to the prosecutor's office. NJ State Police issued an Amber Alert around 4:30 Thursday morning, and residents in the Philadelphia area received it as well.

The U.S. Marshals Service said task force members were watching a home in Chester, Pa. where they thought the child might be located. The officers saw the child "and some other unidentified adults" get into a car and drive over the Commodore Barry Bridge around 7:15 a.m. Thursday.

U.S. Marshals from the Philadelphia office stopped the car at the base of the bridge in Logan Township and arrested Rivera without incident, officials said. Other people were in the car, according to prosecutors.

Rivera already faced second-degree endangering the welfare of a child charges in relation to the Amber Alert, officials said. He also faces third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, simple assault, and harassment charges for a related incident according to the prosecutor's office.