VALRICO, Florida – The 1-year-old girl who was in an SUV when it was stolen in Valrico was considered safe, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The Amber State Alert for Tinnley Sage West has also been canceled.
The sheriff’s office said the vehicle, a silver 2018 Volkswagen SUV, was stolen from a home’s garage just before 3 pm on 2600 block of Green Valley Street in Valrico. The 1 year old child was in his car seat, sleeping in the back seat.
“I couldn’t be happier or more grateful to be in front of you all now and say that we just recovered the car with Tinnley West in it and unharmed,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Mom is on her way now, looking forward to taking custody of her baby.”
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Chronister said the baby’s mother ran into the house and left the car running. She didn’t want to wake Tinnley.
It took the suspect less than a minute to jump into the running vehicle and steal the car with the baby in the car, Sheriff Chronister said.
“Where is she? Where’s my car with her in? Where is she? It was just scary, really scary,” said Chelsea, the baby’s mother.
The deputies managed to find the vehicle that was abandoned in the Santo Antônio Methodist Church.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office released a video of a man walking in the area when the incident happened. Sheriff Chronister said that man stole the SUV with the baby in it. He’s asking the suspect to surrender.
“Moments before he stole the car, he was walking around the neighborhood asking people driving by, coming home from work if they could ride with him,” said Sheriff Chronister.
The suspect is described as a skinny black man wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, the sheriff’s office said.
DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS? That person may have more information about the whereabouts of Tinnley Sage West and the suspect who took off in a Volkswagen SUV with her inside. CALL 813-247-8200 WITH INFORMATION. #SHARE #teamHCSO pic.twitter.com/gPNkf9gyTG
– HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) February 16, 2021
Sheriff Chronister said the parents are extremely grateful to have their daughter safe.
“I can’t imagine. I was in shock … in shock, but Chad and his sons did a good job, they got my daughter back,” said Jonathan West, the baby’s father.
Anyone who recognizes the suspect should call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at 813-247-8200.