This 10-year-old girl who was kidnapped from a Louisiana neighborhood has been reunited with her family thanks to 2 sanitation workers.
On a Sunday afternoon, the girl, Jalisa Lasalle, was reported missing by her family.
The police searched the neighborhood to try and find her and potential clues and one tip indicated she may have been taken into a car.
They immediately issued an Amber Alert. They suspected kidnapping.
Sanitation Workers Help Find the Girl
Sanitation workers Dion Merrick and Brandon Antoine saw a car that matched the description in the Amber Alert. It was parked in a field near their usual route.
Merrick recalled that he didn’t second guess things and knew something wasn’t right as the car was a complete match to the Amber Alert.
It was a lone silver vehicle, a 2012 Nissan Altima which was parked alone in an empty field.
With their vehicle, a Pelican Waste & Debris, the workers blocked the car’s exit and called 911.
Officers arrived right away and they took out the girl from the car. Antoine says he’s not exactly sure what the girl said, but it sounded like ‘I thank y’all’ and then she started crying.
They also arrested the alleged captor, one Michael Sereal, 33-year-old.
In a live streaming video of the police arriving at the scene, Merrick can be heard being relieved that the girl was found.
‘They Did an Amazing Job’, Said the Police Officers
The CEO of Pelican, Roddie Matherne, said in a statement that their company is very proud of their workers.
And, they also added that all people in their Waste team have been true heroes during the pandemic-quite, professional, and consistent heroes who were serving its communities.
And, a lot of them often respond in different ways when they’re on the road; including this exceptional act that saved this girl’s life. Sereal is in custody and will face charges of aggravated kidnapping.
If he’s convicted, he will be sentenced to life in prison without benefit of parole, probation or suspension according to the Louisiana law.
The girl is reported safe and still investigated. The officers said that the sanitation workers did an amazing job.
Sources: