PHOENIX (3TV / CBS 5) – Phoenix police now say that there was never a little girl in this truck that was stolen from a supermarket. Detectives found that the suspected baby’s “caregiver” made up the kidnapping story. Police said the couple wanted a quicker police response to retrieve their vehicle from suspects who had taken their truck without their permission. Stormee Wagner, 40, and James Wagner, 37 (Source: Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office) Police identified the suspects as Stormee Wagner, 40, and James Wagner, 37, Thursday morning and the Ford F-250 was found out of a QuikTrip store Wednesday afternoon stolen near Third Avenue and Indian School Road, said Sgt. Mercedes Fortune with the Phoenix Police Department. The Wagners first informed the officers that there was an 18-month-old girl in the truck at the time of the theft. Police launched a full search to find her and even stated that an Amber Alert would be issued. A few hours later, the truck was found in a neighborhood near 19th Avenue and Orangewood. Sgt. Fortune said officers arrested the man and woman who took the truck after they were found in a nearby home. Both are said to have cooperated with the police. The police did not release any information about her. 2:29 Phoenix police say suspects faked kidnapping Police said the incident started around 1:30 p.m. when the Wagners and the other couple went into the store and allegedly left the baby in the truck parked outside. At that point, the other couple, who had just met the Wagners, left the store and drove away in their truck, police say. More than 50 police officers and a police helicopter were involved in the search for the reported baby. But on Wednesday night the police announced that there was never actually a baby in the truck. “After an intense and exhaustive search for the reported 18-month-old baby, the detectives learned that the Wagners made up the story of the kidnapping,” said Sgt. Fortune. “The couple wanted a faster police response to get their vehicle back from the suspects who stole their trucks without their permission.” “The resources used during this investigation worked tirelessly to find the allegedly kidnapped baby,” continued Fortune on. “With the facts as we now know, the suspects are now being arrested and posted to law enforcement for misreporting.” UPDATE: After an intensive search for the reported baby, we learned that the “foster couple” made up the story of a kidnapping. The couple wanted a quicker police response to retrieve their vehicle from the suspects who had taken their truck without their permission. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/dzUWlbP6iC – Phoenix Police (@PhoenixPolice) May 13, 2021 Phoenix Police posted information on social media calling the incident an amber alert, but Arizona’s family has learned that an amber alert never went off has been. Sgt. Fortune said Thursday the truck was found so quickly that the department had no chance of reaching DPS, the agency that issues yellow warnings. When the vehicle was found empty, investigators soon discovered that the kidnapping call was a joke. Investigators have not identified the couple accused of stealing the truck. Police say they have not been booked, but the department will provide the Maricopa County Prosecutor with a report on possible charges related to the stolen vehicle. Copyright 2021 KPHO / KTVK (KPHO Rundfunkgesellschaft). All rights reserved.
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