An amber alert issued for a 5-year-old boy police said was abducted by his mother's ex-boyfriend in Westchester County was canceled after the child was found safe Monday morning, authorities said.
Mount Vernon Mayor Ernest Davis says little Ranaldo Brown has been returned to his mother. Thomas Whaley, who has no relation to Brown but is his mother's ex-boyfriend is being charged with unlawful imprisonment and endangering the child's welfare, authorities said.
Police had been looking for Brown since Sunday morning after Whaley, 50, allegedly abducted him from his grandfather's house in Mount Vernon. Whaley, who is homeless, kept the child outdoors overnight, sleeping in a park.
Brown's 26-year-old mother has a restraining order against Whaley, who police say has an extensive criminal record. The grandfather did not know about the protection order, however, and let Whaley take the child, police said.
Mount Vernon Police Commissioner Carl Bell said he didn't know why Whaley took the child. Bell said Whaley told the grandfather he wanted to take the boy with him to see some of his friends in the Bronx. The police commissioner also said it appeared Whaley and the boy were close while Whaley was dating the child's mother.
When Whaley didn't return the child Sunday evening, Brown's mother called police. Whaley called the grandfather at about 9:30 a.m. Monday and told him where the boy could be found. Detectives picked him up in the Bronx.
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