Suspect in Kidnapping of WV Girl Apprehended in Baldwin

A suspect in the kidnapping of a 2-year-old girl from Preston County, WV, was taken into custody by police on Friday in a parking lot outside of Italian Village Pizza in Baldwin Borough, not far from the Route 51 cloverleaf.

The suspect was caught by a Pleasant Hills Borough police officer after police pursued his vehicle on Route 51 North.

According to Baldwin police Chief Michael Scott, police units from Baldwin, Pleasant Hills and West Mifflin Borough were able to box the suspect in the parking lot. Baldwin police also deployed "spike strips" (tire deflation devices) about 300 yards farther north on Route 51, but the suspect turned into the parking lot before ever reaching those strips.

"We also took the crash report for Pleasant Hills since the actor's vehicle drifted into a Pleasant Hills police vehicle, causing minor damage," Scott said.

Soon after, Pennsylvania State police arrested the suspect—Timothy Adam White, 23.

According to state police in Washington County (PSP Washington), troopers were dispatched to the area of Interstate 79 for a report of a disabled vehicle at around 1:30 p.m. on Friday.

Shortly thereafter, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation workers found the vehicle parked near the Lone Pine Shed on Interstate 79 North.

The trooper who responded ran the vehicle's registration, and at the time, it had not been reported stolen. But, about an hour later, PSP Washington received a delayed hit on the registration of that vehicle and learned that it was stolen and involved in the kidnapping of a 2-year old female from West Virginia.

State police said that the motive for the kidnapping "is still unclear at this time and is currently under investigation."

PSP Washington then got in contact with Preston County 911 in West Virginia and received information that the suspect was in the area of Richeyville, Washington County.

Troopers then received information that the suspect had stolen an Atlantic Broadband vehicle and had fled that area.

Police encountered the stolen Atlantic vehicle on Route 43 northbound and attempted a vehicle stop, and a pursuit ensued.

The pursuit ended in the area of Route 51, south of Century III Mall, and the suspect was taken into custody after resisting arrest.

The 2-year-old female was found unharmed at a residence on Oak Street in Richeyville. Child & Youth Services case officials took custody of the child with plans to reunite her with her mother.

State police are seeking information from anyone who may have picked up the suspect and transported him from the Lone Pine area to Richeyville, or had any contact with him.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact 412-787-2000.

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