3 charged, accused of stealing car with children inside from Oak Creek Kwik Trip
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Three people are now charged after allegedly stealing a vehicle from Kwik Trip with two children inside.
The accused are Bobby Joe Reed, 21, Bedee Usama, 17, and Ladarius Wright, 20.
According to a criminal complaint, the children's father had just gotten a car wash at the gas station and stepped out of the vehicle to dry it. A man in a Buick, later identified as Wright, asked him for directions, holding up a broken phone and trying to distract him. The victim said while this was happening, he heard his BMW being driven away. The man said his two children-an 8-year-old and 2-year-old- were inside the car, and he sprinted inside to call 911.
Investigators say shortly after, a second 911 call came in stating that the caller followed the stolen vehicle and saw it parked at S. 26th Street and W. Ramsey. The complaint says it's suspected that this call was placed by Wright.
A responding officer located the car and children alone at this location. The complaint says the officer found the 8-year-old in the front seat of the vehicle on the phone with her mother.
The complaint says the child's father was able to describe the suspect who distracted him and said he was sitting in the front passenger seat of a Buick. Officers reviewed surveillance video from Kwik Trip and located the suspect vehicle in an alley, with Reed in the front passenger seat. Police arrested Reed and determined he was connected to Wright, who matched the description of the man who distracted the father at Kwik Trip.
When police located Wright outside an apartment building, the complaint says he quickly ran inside. Another individual, later identified as Usama, also ran into the apartment building. Both surrendered to detectives after roughly 45 minutes.
When questioned, the complaint says Wright admitted to carrying a gun and said that Reed was driving the Buick and wanted to steal a vehicle. He said Reed commented on the BMW and that Reed told Usama to take it. Wright stated that he and Reed distracted the victim until he walked away from the BMW and Usama drove away in it.
Investigators spoke with Usama, who admitted to driving away in the BMW while the others distracted the victim. Usama told police when he realized there were kids in the car, he pulled behind a Batteries Plus. He said he got back into the Buick with Reed and Wright and told someone to call 911 and report the location so the kids would be found safe.
The three are each charged with two counts abduction of a child (as a party to a crime) and operating a motor vehicle without owner's consent. Reed also faces a bail jumping charge, and Wright is charged with carrying a concealed weapon.