Detectives with the Broward Sheriff's Office Special Victims Unit are looking for a man they said stole a car with a three-year-old child inside in Oakland Park
According to detectives, just after 8 a.m. Saturday, deputies arrived at an IHOP located at 3101 W. Oakland Park Blvd. over reports of a stolen vehicle with a three-year-old boy inside.
A woman was leaving the restaurant when she realized her vehicle with her child inside were nowhere to be found. A few minutes later, deputies were able to find the vehicle, with the child unharmed at 1901 N.W. 40th Ave. in Fort Lauderdale, according to the report.
K-9 units and police helicopters were sent to help search the area, but the suspect identified as 33-year-old Phillip J. Pepe, Jr. abandoned the vehicle and evaded police.
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"They believe that he fled somewhere in Broward County or perhaps he fled somewhere in Palm Beach County," said BSO Public Information Officer Miranda Grossman.
Pepe was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and blue shorts and has a tattoo on his right arm and an abrasion under his left eye.
Pepe, a native of Delaware, was arrested Thursday on drug charges and a driving with a suspended license charge. Now, he’s wanted on charges of kidnapping, grand theft auto and false imprisonment of a child, online court record said.
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"We always encourage people whether you leave your car for a few hours or minutes to take out your valuables and lock your car," said Grossman. "Take our your pets and kids."
Anyone with information on Pepe's whereabouts is asked to contact BSO Special Victims Unit or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
