A routine grocery delivery in Atlanta became a child safety emergency on July 30 when a vehicle was allegedly taken with a 2-year-old girl inside. The child’s mother called 911 after returning from an Instacart delivery and discovering that her running car was gone. Police used license plate readers to locate the vehicle and rescue the toddler in less than 15 minutes, according to authorities.
Newly released emergency call audio and body camera footage show the mother’s distress and the police operation that followed. The child was found unharmed and reunited with her parents, while 21-year-old Saleem Martin was taken into custody and charged in connection with the incident.
An arrest warrant also describes allegations involving the child after the vehicle was located. Investigators with the department’s Special Victims Unit were brought into the case.
| 1) | 911 call reports a stolen vehicle with a child inside |
| 2) | License plate readers help police find the car |
| 3) | Officers arrest the suspect and secure the toddler |
| 4) | Warrant details additional allegations involving the child |
| 5) | Martin faces multiple criminal charges |
911 call reports a stolen vehicle with a child inside
The incident unfolded at approximately 4:36 p.m. on July 30 in Atlanta. Police said the mother had left the vehicle running while she completed an Instacart delivery. When she returned, the vehicle and her daughter were gone.
In the emergency call, the mother told a dispatcher that someone had stolen her car and that her 2-year-old daughter was in the backseat. She repeated that the child was inside as the dispatcher gathered information needed to begin the response.
“Someone just stole my car and it has my 2-year-old daughter in it.”
License plate readers help police find the car
Officers from Atlanta’s Auto Crimes Enforcement Unit began searching for the vehicle immediately. Authorities used the city’s license plate reader network to identify the car’s location and track the suspect and child.
Police said the technology allowed officers to locate the vehicle in under 15 minutes. The rapid search focused on recovering the toddler and stopping the vehicle safely before the situation could develop further.
Officers arrest the suspect and secure the toddler
Body camera footage shows officers surrounding the vehicle and ordering the driver to raise his hands and exit. Officers directed him to place his hands on the window, turn away and put his hands behind his back.
The footage shows Saleem Martin being handcuffed as the child cried nearby. Her mother comforted her while officers assessed her condition.
“The child is okay. The child’s okay,” an officer reported over the radio.
Authorities said the toddler was not injured and was reunited with her parents after the recovery.
Warrant details additional allegations involving the child
According to an arrest warrant, the mother later noticed that the bottom of her daughter’s dress was unbuttoned. The warrant alleges that the child told her mother, “the man did it.” These allegations remain part of the investigation.
The warrant further alleges that Martin had both hands on the child’s torso when officers found him and that he was attempting to hide between the vehicle’s seats. Investigators said Martin told them he had been touching the child to calm her, according to accounts of the warrant.
Martin also allegedly told investigators that he entered the vehicle because he was trying to return to New Jersey and did not realize the child was in the backseat until after he drove away. Investigators said he later realized an iPad was inside the vehicle and discarded it because he believed it could be used to track him.
Martin faces multiple criminal charges
Police charged 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, the presence of the child and additional allegations described in the warrant.
The department’s Special Victims Unit is participating in the investigation. The available information describes allegations rather than court findings, and the case will proceed through the legal system.
| No. | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | The vehicle was allegedly stolen during an Instacart delivery with a 2-year-old inside. |
| 2 | Atlanta police located the vehicle in under 15 minutes using license plate readers. |
| 3 | The child was found unharmed and reunited with her parents. |
| 4 | Martin faces kidnapping, theft and cruelty-related charges. |
Summary
Atlanta police responded quickly after a mother reported that her vehicle had been taken with her toddler inside. Technology, including license plate readers, helped officers recover the child and arrest the alleged driver. The investigation continues, including review of the allegations outlined in the arrest warrant.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the alleged theft occur?
Police said the incident occurred at approximately 4:36 p.m. on July 30 in Atlanta.
How was the vehicle located?
Atlanta police used license plate readers to locate the vehicle, suspect and child in under 15 minutes, according to authorities.
Was the child injured?
Authorities said the toddler was unharmed and reunited with her parents.
What charges does Saleem Martin face?
Martin faces charges including kidnapping, theft by taking, simple battery, entering an automobile, cruelty to children and criminal attempt to commit a felony.