Police seek help locating kidnapped baby

Authorities at an 11:30 a.m. press conference at the North Charleston Police Department said they are asking for the public's help as they look for an infant who was kidnapped yesterday afternoon.

The FBI is offering $20,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest of the person who took Angel Miguel Perez.

A statewide Amber Alert was issued Monday for the 1-month old baby boy who was taken from a car that was left running while his mother, 26-year-old Lidia Juarez, dropped off mail at a post office.

The police department has set up a bank of five telephone numbers to handle calls as they seek information on the case. The numbers are:

• 843 697-4140
• 843 697-5892
• 843 697-6025
• 843 697-7113
• 843 697-7777.

They also have set up an e-mail address that people can use to send any tips or information to. The e-mail address is ncbabyangel@gmail.com.

North Charleston police said Juarez reported that she pulled into the North Charleston Post Office at 6401 Rivers Ave. about 5 p.m. with her infant inside her car. She parked near the door and left the car running as she went inside.

When she returned to her car, the child was gone, said Spencer Pryor, police spokesman.

The police department has been able to put together a timeline of the woman's movements yesterday afternoon using video cameras at different North Charleston locations:

• 1:55 p.m. - The woman and her baby left their residence on Read Street.
• 3 p.m. - left a clinic on Northbrook Boulevard
• 3:59 p.m. - left the Wal-Mart 7400 Rivers Ave.
• 4:24 p.m. left the Ross at 7250 Rivers Ave.
• 4:30-4:42 time at post office 6401 Rivers Ave.

A witness told police that a black female was seen walking across the parking lot with an infant in hand. She was described as being in her 20s, 5 feet, 1 inch tall, weighing 175 pounds, with shoulder-length hair and a medium complexion. She had on a blue-and-white striped shirt and was wearing boots.

The suspect drove away in a charcoal or dark gray four-door compact car with a rear spoiler, according to police.

The infant was described as a Hispanic male. He weighs about 11 pounds. He was reportedly wearing a blue shirt and pants, white shoes and a blue hat. The child has brown eyes and dark hair.

Because all traffic leaving the Rivers Avenue post office has to first travel east on Rivers Avenue, the suspect's direction of travel was not clear.

Three hours after the baby allegedly was kidnapped, investigators were still on the scene at the post office. They were combing over Juarez's car, which still was parked near the front door. A child safety seat was in the car's rear seat.

An Amber Alert was issued by the State Law Enforcement Division. Anyone with information about the incident should contact North Charleston Police at 554-5700 or the numbers listed above.

Reach David W. MacDougall at macdougd@postandcourier.com or 937-5655.