In a harrowing incident of carjacking and kidnapping in Oakland, quick police action led to a comforting resolution as a two-year-old child, who had been abducted, was safely reunited with their family yesterday. According to the Marin County Sheriff's Office, the young victim was discovered unharmed and alone near a warehouse in San Leandro soon after the kidnapping was reported.
The ordeal began near the Oakland Coliseum and spiraled into a frantic search. But technology provided the essential breakthrough in the form of a 'Find My' iPhone application. The mother of the kidnapped child was able to trace her stolen car to a McDonald's in Strawberry, which led the Southern Marin Sheriff Deputies to a parked, unoccupied vehicle linked to the suspects. Surveillance video from McDonald's provided a clearer picture of the two individuals involved.
In a statement obtained by the Marin County Sheriff's Office, COPE Detectives later spotted the suspects attempting to escape on foot in the vicinity of Greenwood Cove Drive and Tiburon Blvd. Marin County Sheriff Deputies teamed with detectives from the Coordination of Probation Enforcement (COPE) Unit and Tiburon Police Officers, converged on the area, culminating in a swift capture of the suspects.
The individuals apprehended were identified as Viorel Andrei Morari, a 35-year-old male from Oakland, and Carly McVicker, a 32-year-old female from San Leandro. Following their arrest, Oakland Police took custody of both subjects, and the stolen vehicle was processed for further evidence. The suspects are now facing charges, including Kidnapping and Carjacking, and have been booked at an Alameda County Jail.
The Marin County Sheriff's Office has expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts leading to the child's safe recovery. The successful coordination between multiple law enforcement agencies highlights the importance of swift interagency cooperation in emergencies.
