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Father accused of abducting child is in custody after hours of negotiations

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION)

UPDATE 7/21/2020 1 p.m. Miguel Torres, the Watsonville man accused of abducting his one-year-old daughter, is facing several charges.

According to the Santa Cruz County Jail, he is charged with child cruelty, resisting arrest and evading police.

Torres is accused of abducting his daughter after a fight with her mother. When Torres was found, he was involved in a three-hour standoff with law enforcement.

UPDATE 7/20/2020 10:30 p.m. - Miguel Torres is now in custody after abducting his one-year-old daughter, according to Watsonville Police.

Torres engaged in a three-hour standoff with law enforcement.

After attempts to negotiate, Watsonville Police ultimately used flash-bang grenades as a distraction.

"Three of them were set off," Watsonville Police Media and Communications specialist Michelle Pulido said. "Our officers were able to break one of the windows in the truck and grab Frida."

At that point, police said that Torres was still combative, so he was Tased and taken to the hospital. He'll be booked into county jail on charges of child endangerment as well as obstructing and delaying an investigation.

Frida is unharmed and back with her mother, according to police.

UPDATE 7/20/2020 6:58 p.m. - The man accused of abducting his one-year-old daughter is now in custody, according to Watsonville Police.

Miguel Torres is in custody after three hours of negotiations with law enforcement.

Police say the child appears okay and is back with her mother. She is being checked by paramedics.

UPDATE 7/20/2020 5:45 p.m. KION has learned that police responded to the 200 block of Riverside Road at around 3:30 p.m. for a report that Miguel Torres and his daughter were in the area.

Miguel Torres is accused of abducting his one-year-old daughter, Frida Torres. She is reportedly safe with the father.

A crisis negotiation team with Watsonville police is negotiating with the suspect, and multiple units from Watsonville, Santa Cruz police and CHP are at the scene. They are working to convince him to let Frida out of the truck.

It is not known if Torres is armed.

UPDATE 7/20/2020 5 p.m. KION is at the scene in Watsonville where negotiations are underway between law enforcement and the suspect, 39-year-old Miguel Torres, to get him to hand over his daughter.

The negotiations are happening in the 200 block of Riverside Road. Our crew reports that a CSI unit just pulled up.

Torres is accused of abducting his one-year-old daughter, Frida.

This is a developing story. Keep checking back for updates.

PREVIOUS STORY: Watsonville police are looking for one-year-old Frida Torres, who they say was abducted by her father.

Police said Frida was taken by her father after an argument with the child's mother Sunday night.

Frida's father, 39-year-old Miguel Torres, is believed to be traveling with her in a white 2012 Chevy Silverado crew cab 2500 LT with California license plate 02971S2.

Police said the CHP tried to stop the truck after a hit and run investigation, but he led them on a pursuit that was called off on Highway 17 near Scotts Valley because officers saw a child inside the truck without a car seat.

The CHP said the incident does not qualify for an AMBER Alert activation.

Anyone who sees Miguel, Frida or the truck is asked to call 911.

Miguel Torres
Article Topic Follows: News

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Avery Johnson

Avery Johnson is the Digital Content Director at KION News Channel 5/46.

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