MIAMI – A 34-year-old woman is facing a felony charge after Miami police said she snatched her 6-year-old son during a supervised visit at a family resource center in Little Havana, triggering an Amber Alert and an overnight search.
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Ismari Figueroa Leon is facing one count of custody interference by a parent, according to an arrest report from the Miami Police Department obtained by Local 10 News on Friday.
Authorities said the incident unfolded just before 6 p.m. Thursday, when Figueroa Leon arrived for a scheduled supervised visit with her son, Ryan Artiles Figueroa, at the Family Resource Center of South Florida, located at 1393 SW First St.
The visit was being monitored by a visitation specialist, the report stated.
Police said during the visit, Figueroa Leon suddenly grabbed Ryan and fled eastbound on Southwest First Street.
The visitation specialist told detectives that she ran after them but lost sight of the pair near Southwest 13th Avenue and immediately called 911 to report the alleged abduction.
Surveillance video later recovered from a nearby convenience store showed Figueroa Leon running with Ryan in the same direction, police said.
An Amber Alert was issued for Ryan late Thursday, with authorities warning the public that the boy may be traveling in a black 2012 Chevrolet Equinox.
Just after 1 a.m. Friday, MPD officials said Figueroa Leon called the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office on a recorded line and asked, “Why am I on an Amber Alert?”
They said her phone was pinged to the area of Northeast 14th Avenue and Ives Dairy Road.
Authorities said MDSO deputies responded, detained Figueroa Leon, and recovered Ryan safely.
They said the child was unharmed, and both were taken to the department’s Special Victims Unit for further investigation.
Authorities said that during a recorded interview around 3 a.m. Friday, Figueroa Leon was read her Miranda rights in Spanish and she invoked her right to remain silent.
Detectives noted that while Figueroa Leon had never missed a supervised visit since the case was assigned in March, this was the first time she had attempted to abduct her son.
As of Friday, Figueroa Leon remained at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where her bond was set at $2,500.
