New Orleans Teen’s A/C Break Turns Into Alleged Kidnapping By Caretaker’s Son

An early-morning missing-child alert in New Orleans ended with the arrest of a 26-year-old man police say drove off with a 17-year-old nonverbal teen he lived with, after being asked to start a car for some air conditioning. Officers identified the suspect as Tommie Mango and said the teenager, who has a developmental disability, was later found and taken to a local hospital for a preliminary evaluation, according to authorities.

Early-Morning Alert Rattles New Orleans East Block

The New Orleans Police Department issued a Level II Endangered/Missing Child Advisory after the teen was reported missing from a home in the 4500 block of Eastview Drive, in the Plum Village area of New Orleans East. Police described the youth as 17 and nonverbal, and the advisory, sent out early Thursday, was canceled by 7:32 a.m., according to WDSU.

Mother Says Quick Favor Turned Into Ride Off The Property

Investigators say the teen’s caretaker told officers she had asked her son to start her car so the teenager could sit inside with the air conditioning running. According to police, her son then left the property with the teen still in the vehicle. The youth, who authorities said has a developmental disability, was later located, and 26-year-old Tommie Mango was booked on counts of simple kidnapping and unauthorized use of a vehicle, as reported by NOLA.

How A Level II Advisory Works In Louisiana

Louisiana State Police say a Level II Endangered/Missing Child Advisory comes into play when a child is believed to be in danger but the situation does not meet the stricter criteria required for an AMBER Alert. The alert lets law enforcement quickly share key details with the public and can be upgraded if new information calls for it. State police describe the advisory as a rapid-notification tool used while investigators race to find the child, according to the Louisiana State Police.

Case Heads Toward DA Review

Police said the teen was taken to a local hospital for a preliminary investigation and that case files are being prepared for the Orleans Parish district attorney’s office. Officials did not immediately say whether prosecutors planned any additional charges, according to NOLA. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact New Orleans police as they continue examining what happened.