3-year-old girl dad says was abducted in Oakland carjacking found safe

OAKLAND — A 3-year-old girl whose father told police was abducted when he was carjacked in East Oakland on Saturday night was found safe early Sunday, authorities said.

The suspected carjacker was arrested in the stolen car in El Cerrito on Saturday night but the girl was found in another city and police are investigating how she got there, authorities said.

Authorities said the girl’s father initially told police his daughter was in a car seat in the back seat of his 2005 Mercedes Benz when he was carjacked about 8:10 p.m. Saturday in the 5900 block of International Boulevard in East Oakland.

The father reportedly lives in another city and it was not immediately clear why he was in East Oakland.

Oakland police sent out bulletins to surrounding law enforcement agencies based on what the father said that included a picture of the girl and also issued an Amber Alert for her.

Late Saturday night the suspected carjacker was arrested in El Cerrito after the vehicle crashed.  His name has not been released and police have not said if he made any statements.

The girl was not in the car and was located in another city just before 2 a.m. Sunday.  Police have not yet said what city or how she got there.

Police are continuing to investigate.

Check back for updates.