NY Man Helps Troopers Stop Grandchild Abduction

An AMBER Alert was activated by the New York State Police at about 1:38 a.m. Saturday in conjunction with the Vermont State Police for a 4-year-old girl, who was taken from a residence in Fayston, Vermont by her non-custodial grandmother and the grandmother’s boyfriend.

It was believed that the three were traveling to Illinois in a 2003 Dodge Caravan bearing VT registration FSC616.

Troopers David Johns and Michael Gardner were on patrol on the New York State Thruway, actively checking rest areas and monitoring westbound traffic for the van.

At about 2:05 am, they observed a vehicle fitting the description traveling West in the Town of Dewitt.

As they began pursuit, a private citizen, Brian Balletine of Liverpool, New York, was traveling West on the Thruway. He read the description of the vehicle involved in the Amber Alert from a digital message board on the side of the road; and within minutes, saw the Dodge Caravan in front of him.

He called 911.

The Troopers arrived within seconds, as it was the same vehicle they were trying to catch up with.

The suspects were taken into custody without incident and the 4-year-old girl—who was unharmed—was turned over to Onondaga County Child Protective Services, pending return to her legal guardian, police said.

Charged as a Fugitive from Justice relative to arrest warrants issued by the Vermont State Police for Felony Custodial Interference and Felony Unlawful Restraint in the 2nd degree:

• 47 year old Dawn M. Hutchinson , from Waitsfield, VT
• 61 year old Joel Rosenthal, from Waitsfield, VT

The State Police thanked Balletine for his efforts and encourage all citizens to actively participate in the Amber Alert program.