Posted: 8:36 am EST November 17,
2009Updated: 1:03 pm EST November 17,
2009
MAITLAND, Fla. -- Maitland police and Seminole County deputies searching for the man who allegedly took a child from Florida Hospital Altamonte on Monday afternoon, without his mother's permission, captured the suspect in a Seminole County neighborhood Tuesday morning.Vincent Marchese, 30, appeared tired and was bloodied as he was taken into custody and placed in a deputy's squad car (images | video). During the apprehension, Eyewitness News reporter Daralene Jones asked Marchese why he took the 3-year-old from the hospital.SUSPECT CAPTURED:Raw Video (explicit) | See Images RAW INTERVIEWS:Man Sees Suspect | Man Sees Arrest MOM, BOY REUNITED:See Images | Watch Raw Video 911 CALL:Man Reports Boy's Disappearance"I didn't take that boy!" Marchese exclaimed while in police custody (watch raw video). "I didn't kidnap anyone. I love that little boy!”Deputies had to break down a resident’s fence to get to Marchese, eyewitnesses told WFTV, because he was hiding on the other side of the fence under some brush. It appears that Marchese was hiding out in the neighborhood all night.
“Where have you been, Vincent?” Daralene Jones asked.“I’ve been hiding,” he said.Authorities had been looking for Marchese since he allegedly took the child around 3:30pm Monday. Investigators say Marchese was at the hospital watching 3-year-old Alexiou Higgs while the boy’s mother, 22-year-old Brittany Higgs, was being treated. When she was ready to leave at 1:30pm Monday they were nowhere to be found.Brittany told police she did not give Marchese permission to leave in her minivan with her son. She searched for a couple of hours with a friend and then called police. Police then began investigating and discovered that Marchese left the hospital with Alexiou in Brittany Higgs’ Dodge Caravan.Law enforcement then issued a statewide ‘lookout’ with information about the boy, Marchese and the vehicle. The van was located just before 8:30pm by a Seminole County deputy near SR-436 and SR-600 (see map). Deputies said they attempted to block in the vehicle, at which time Marchese allegedly rammed a Seminole County deputy’s marked patrol car and began to flee. Investigators said Marchese shortly after bailed from the vehicle, in the area of English Estates and was unable to be located.
Law enforcement canvassed the area near Highway 17-92 and Oxford Road in Maitland Tuesday morning after receiving a tip indicating Marchese was in the neighborhood. Authorities searched the same area Monday night while trying to track down the suspect.Alexiou was in the vehicle Monday night when Marchese rammed the deputy's car, but was uninjured and safely recovered. The boy was returned his mother a short while later (images | raw video).“Oh! Oh, my baby! Hi!” Higgs exclaimed Monday night as her boy was handed to her at the Altamonte Springs Police Department (watch raw video). “I could never see him hurting my child. But obviously,” Brittany told WFTV when asked about Marchese.The boy was missing for about eight hours. The only place investigators have confirmed he was during that time is a Walgreen’s in Maitland; police say they have surveillance video of the boy and Marchese there and will release it later Tuesday.After his arrest Tuesday morning, Marchese was transported to Florida Hospital Altamonte, the same hospital he allegedly took the boy from, to be treated for K-9 related injuries he sustained during his arrest. After release from the hospital, Marchese will go to the Orange County jail because he was actually captured in Maitland. He’ll face charges in Orange County for resisting arrest.Once Marchese faces charges in Orange County, he’ll be transported to Seminole County to face charges of interfering with parental custody and for fleeing and eluding and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. It’s unclear how long it will take to resolve the Orange County charges and to transport him to Seminole County.
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Suspect In Custody: "I Didn't Take That Boy!"
Posted: 8:36 am EST November 17, 2009Updated: 1:03 pm EST November 17, 2009
SUSPECT CAPTURED: Raw Video (explicit) | See Images
RAW INTERVIEWS: Man Sees Suspect | Man Sees Arrest
MOM, BOY REUNITED: See Images | Watch Raw Video
911 CALL: Man Reports Boy's Disappearance
"I didn't take that boy!" Marchese exclaimed while in police custody (watch raw video). "I didn't kidnap anyone. I love that little boy!”Deputies had to break down a resident’s fence to get to Marchese, eyewitnesses told WFTV, because he was hiding on the other side of the fence under some brush. It appears that Marchese was hiding out in the neighborhood all night.
Raw Video (explicit) | Images
See Images | Raw Video
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