In Willimantic, CT, a distressing event unfolded on Wednesday afternoon. A 3-year-old child was found in a car that had been stolen from a local gas station. The situation took a turn for the better as the child was later located safely, but a man now faces serious kidnapping charges.

Unraveling the Details of a Willimantic Kidnapping Incident

Initial Incident at the Gas Station

Police were alerted to the situation at 4:17 p.m. when they received a call regarding a stolen vehicle. The young child was in the backseat of a white Volkswagen Tiguan. The suspect's actions were swift as he made off with the car.Just after leaving the gas station, the suspect pulled into a parking lot in Lebanon. In a seemingly heart-wrenching act, he dropped the child off in front of a business while people were exiting. The suspect then quickly fled the scene, leaving the child behind.

Police Response and Child's Safety

The police responded promptly and managed to find the child a short time later. To ensure the child's well-being, they took the child to the hospital for a precautionary evaluation. The Department of Children and Families was also notified and is now assisting in the ongoing investigation.

Arrest and Charges

A suspect was taken into custody in Preston and transported to the Willimantic Police Department. WTNH News-8 reported that Haninef Baker, 28, was arrested and faced a series of serious charges including second-degree kidnapping, robbery involving an occupied motor vehicle, risk of injury to a minor, larceny of a motor vehicle, and second-degree breach of peace. He was held on a $250,000 cash/surety bond.The incident is still under investigation, and authorities are working diligently to piece together all the details. Stay tuned for more updates as the story unfolds.Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.