A 28-year-old man wanted in connection with the kidnapping of a 7-year-old girl has been arrested in Arizona.
Henderson Police said deputies from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Department arrested Matthew Hayward near Flagstaff on unrelated charges Sunday. Police said Hayward refused to provide identification, but he was identified on Thursday through fingerprints.
Arizona deputies did a criminal search on Hayward and found he was wanted in Henderson in connection with the girl's kidnapping this past Saturday.
Henderson Police earlier in the day on Thursday had released video in their search for him.
Warrants have been issued charging Hayward with kidnapping, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and burglary.
Police said Hayward abducted the girl from the Allegro Apartments in Henderson, where he had been staying with the girl's father.
Police issued an Amber Alert on Saturday for the girl, who was found unharmed later that day in Barstow, Calif.
Officials on Thursday had said they believed Hayward left the apartment in his own car, which broke down on U.S. 95 near Russell Road. Hayward then allegedly walked with the girl to a convenience store, where he called a cab, police said.
After the cab arrived, police say Hayward pulled a knife on the cabdriver and forced him to drive them to California. In Barstow, Hayward allegedly told the driver and the girl to get out of the cab.
The cab was found in the parking lot of a Barstow restaurant, police said.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy