Flagler Sheriff’s Office Recover 5-Year-Old Child Who Was Kidnapped When Car Was Stolen

FCSO responded to a call about a domestic disturbance at Circle K on Palm Coast Parkway on September 8, 2021. The reporting individual told FCSO she was in a physical altercation with a childhood friend, who was identified as Andrew Allen—at which time he took off with her 5-year-old daughter in her vehicle. The reporting party told deputies the vehicle was a white Dodge Journey and Allen was a passenger in—in addition to her 5-year-old daughter.

She told deputies that as she exited the vehicle, Allen went inside the gas station. When Allen came out, he jumped in the driver’s seat and locked the Dodge Journey. The child was locked inside with Allen. The mother then pleaded with Allen to unlock the vehicle. He refused and drove to the other side of the gas station parking lot.

As the mother approached, she again asked Allen to unlock the doors. Allen complied and the reporting party grabbed her belongings inside the vehicle. At this point, Allen exited the vehicle and shoved the victim. She would fall to the ground. Allen then jumped back into the vehicle and drove away towards Belle Terre Parkway. The child was still in the backseat.

FCSO asked the victim about the relationship with Allen to which she told deputies they had been friends since childhood and she was the owner of the vehicle. She also did not grant Allen permission to use the vehicle or to have custody of the child.

Deputies quickly intercepted the vehicle at the intersection of US-1 and Commerce Boulevard. They conducted a felony traffic stop. Allen was secured without any incident and the child was safe and in good health.

Allen was arrested and transported to Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. His changes stand as kidnapping, simple battery, and grand theft of a motor vehicle. He’s being held on no bond.

“This was great work by our deputies who acted quickly to recover the child and vehicle safely,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “A situation like this is very time-sensitive and required great teamwork to make sure no one was hurt. Of all the bad decisions Allen made at least he made one good choice and did not try to flee.”