Phones across the city began blaring Wednesday as an 11-month-old baby was abducted from southeast Baltimore in a stolen car.
After that AMBER alert was sent out, police helicopters began flying and people were asked to be on alert. Police said they were immediately flooded with tips, and because of the attention, the right people stepped in to help.
Charlmaine Wilson and 15-year-old Omar Parrine stumbled upon 11-month-old Leo Garcia Lopez who was left on a sidewalk in northeast Baltimore in his car set. They stayed by his side until police arrived and took over.
"It was my mother's instincts to know something wasn't right, so I just acted on it with the grace of God," Wilson said.
Wednesday afternoon, an SUV was stolen from the 400 block of Kane Street, with baby Leo in his car seat as his mother unloaded groceries, police said.
Baltimore police spokesman Chief TJ Smith said a male suspect jumped into the vehicle and drove northeast. He then left Leo on a sidewalk.
Wednesday afternoon, Omar Parrine, 15, decided to get home a different way than he usually does.
"I had a feeling in my gut. (It) told me to catch that bus," Parrine said.
Both he and Charlmaine Wilson stumbled upon Lopez. Both stayed by his side until police arrived and took over.
Follow Dakarai Turner on Twitter @Dakarai_Turner and on Facebook
Thursday, both were honored with certificates by Baltimore police and the city's mayor.
"I picked the baby up. The baby started screaming, hollering (and) crying; it was cold (and) shivering," Wilson said, who said she held the baby in her arms until police arrived.
Because of their actions, mother and baby are at home resting together.
A 15-year-old juvenile was charged with abduction and harboring a child under the age of 16, police said.
Baltimore Police encourage everyone to make sure Amber alert notifications are enabled on their mobile devices.
