A routine grocery delivery in Atlanta became a child-endangerment investigation after police said a vehicle was stolen with a 2-year-old girl inside. Newly released 911 audio and body camera footage show the child’s mother reporting the theft and officers taking the suspect into custody. Police said the child was located unharmed in less than 15 minutes.
The incident occurred at about 4:36 p.m. on July 30, after the vehicle was left running during an Instacart delivery. Authorities identified the suspect as Saleem Martin, 21, who faces multiple charges connected to the alleged theft and the child’s presence in the vehicle.
The investigation continued after the child’s mother reported an observation about the girl’s clothing and said the toddler made a statement about the man who had been driving. Police assigned the case to their Special Victims Unit.
| 1) | 911 call reports a child inside the stolen vehicle |
| 2) | License plate readers help locate the car |
| 3) | Officers arrest the suspect and recover the toddler |
| 4) | Arrest warrant details additional allegations |
| 5) | Suspect faces kidnapping and other charges |
911 call reports a child inside the stolen vehicle
The child’s mother called Atlanta 911 after returning from an Instacart delivery and finding that her vehicle was gone. She told the dispatcher that her 2-year-old daughter had remained in the backseat. The vehicle had reportedly been left running while the mother completed the delivery.
“Someone just stole my car and it has my 2-year-old daughter in it.”
The mother repeated that her daughter was inside as the dispatcher confirmed the circumstances. Her account prompted an immediate search focused on recovering both the vehicle and the child.
License plate readers help locate the car
Atlanta police officers from the Auto Crimes Enforcement Unit began searching for the vehicle shortly after the call. Police said the city’s license plate reader system helped identify the car’s location and track the suspect’s movements.
According to the department, officers located the vehicle, the suspect and the child in under 15 minutes. The technology gave investigators a way to narrow the search quickly after the reported theft, while officers moved to intercept the vehicle safely.
Officers arrest the suspect and recover the toddler
Body camera footage released by police shows officers surrounding the vehicle and ordering the driver to raise his hands and exit. Officers instructed him to place his hands on the window and then behind his back as they took him into custody.
The video shows the toddler crying as her mother tried to calm her. An officer later radioed that the child was safe. Police said the girl was unharmed and reunited with her parents after the recovery.
“It’s okay, baby. It’s okay, baby,” the mother told her daughter.
Arrest warrant details additional allegations
An arrest warrant alleges that the mother later noticed the bottom of her daughter’s dress was unbuttoned. The warrant also states that the toddler told her mother, “the man did it,” referring to the person who had driven the vehicle.
The warrant alleges that Saleem Martin had both hands on the child’s torso when officers found him and was attempting to hide between the seats. Police brought the Special Victims Unit into the investigation to examine the allegations involving the child.
Investigators said Martin claimed he had touched the child while trying to calm her. He also allegedly told investigators that he entered the vehicle because he wanted to return to New Jersey and did not realize the toddler was in the backseat until after driving away. Police further alleged that he discarded an iPad after realizing it could be used to track him.
Suspect faces kidnapping and other charges
Police charged Saleem Martin with kidnapping, theft by taking, simple battery, entering an automobile, cruelty to children and criminal attempt to commit a felony. The charges reflect the alleged vehicle theft as well as the circumstances involving the child.
The allegations remain part of an active criminal case. The toddler’s reported recovery without physical injury was followed by further investigative work into what occurred inside the vehicle and the suspect’s conduct before officers arrived.
| 1 | Police said a vehicle was stolen during an Instacart delivery with a 2-year-old child inside. |
| 2 | License plate readers helped officers locate the vehicle in under 15 minutes. |
| 3 | The suspect faces kidnapping, theft, battery and child cruelty charges. |
Summary
Atlanta police said a fast response using license plate readers led to the recovery of a stolen vehicle and a 2-year-old girl on July 30. The child was reported unharmed and returned to her parents, while Saleem Martin was arrested and charged with several offenses. Further investigation is focused on the allegations described in the arrest warrant and the events inside the vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the alleged theft occur?
Police said it occurred at about 4:36 p.m. on July 30 during an Instacart delivery in Atlanta.
Was the child injured?
Authorities said the toddler was unharmed and reunited with her parents after officers recovered the vehicle.
What charges does the suspect face?
Police charged Saleem Martin with kidnapping, theft by taking, simple battery, entering an automobile, cruelty to children and criminal attempt to commit a felony.
