It happened around 7 this morning. The mother said that she left her car running at the curb, as she ran inside the store to grab a few things. That's when she said that a man jumped in her car and drove away, with her kids in the back seat. Tonight, her kids are safe and police have a city man in custody.
Investigators tell us it was about 7:00 p.m. on Friday when they arrested 23-year-old Omar Baez of Troy. They are charging him with grand larcenty and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
"I hear my truck, look out and the guy had my truck with my kids. I ran outside screaming 'my kids were just kidnapped. They've got my truck, they've got my kids,'" said Tara Goss, the mother.
Goss said that she saw the driver because was in line in front of her at the R & M Grocery on 4th St., in Troy. She ran after her car, but was only able to watch as her kids were driven away.
"I was a wreck. I'm 9 1/2 months pregnant, about to give birth to a baby, I was a wreck," she said.
Goss and police don't think Baez knew the kids were there when he hopped in, but don't think it took long for him to find out.
"My son was awake and he said he spoke with him, so he knew. As you got a block away you knew there were kids in the truck, you should have abandoned them down the street," she said.
The 10-year-old was able to give police some details.
"He told my son not to say anything, he was going to hurt him and all he wanted to do was get home. The guy said all he wanted to do was get home," said Goss.
Police think that maybe he did, or at least to the home of someone he knew. But not before he crashed Goss's car, and left her kids.
"The vehicle was recovered about 45 minutes later by officers at the Eddy's Lane apartment complex in Troy," said Sgt. Terry Buchanan, with Troy Police.
Goss said that her 10-year-old took his 2-year-old brother to a nearby home until police arrived. Tonight she feels lucky her kids are safe. But, she and police have a message for others.
"Don't ever leave your children for 2 seconds. Take your children with you. Don't leave your truck running. I do it all the time and look what happened to me," she said.
"Anyone who might be inclined to do this, if they're looking for a New Years Resolution, this would be a good one to have on New Years Day. Don't leave your kids in the car, with it running," said Buchanan.
Police said that leaving kids in a running car is illegal. So there is a chance that Goss could be charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Tonight, she faces no charges.
