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Kidnapped 3-Year-Old Found Safe, Father In Custody In Canada

LONGMONT, Colo. (CBS4) - Authorities say a 3-year-old boy kidnapped from his Longmont home on Saturday has been found safe and the suspect is in custody in Canada.

An Amber Alert was issued for Luke Turner after police say he was taken by his father, Monty Ray Turner.

"They were located and Monty Turner was arrested without incident by the Brandon Police Department at the Casablanca Motor Lodge in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada without incident," Jeff Satur with Longmont police said in a statement. "We are currently working with the Brandon Police Department, Family Services and the FBI to reunite Luke with his mother and coordinate extradition."

According to police, at approximately 10:07 a.m. on Saturday Monty Turner, 51, allegedly broke into his estranged wife's home located in the 700 block of Eldora Place, physically assaulted her, sprayed her with pepper spray and then stunned her with an electronic control device.

"My son got out of his chair at the table and was yelling to him, 'Please don't hurt my mommy,' " mother Brandy Turner said.

VIDEO: Longmont Police News Conference On The Arrest | Mother Of Kidnapped Son's News Conference

"We got some breaks and we received information that he may be at a hotel. We called that hotel and the clerk was able to verify he was there and, in fact, checked in about one hour before our phone call. He knew which room he was in. We immediately called the police department at that city," Satur said.

Kidnapping Map
(credit: CBS)

Police believe Monty Turner's father, Ronald Eugene Turner, assisted in the getaway. Police were looking for a white Chrysler 300 and the Missouri State Patrol located it traveling on a highway in Vernon County Sunday morning. Ronald Turner was driving the car but Monty and Luke Turner weren't with him.

Ronald Turner was described as "uncooperative" by Missouri troopers during the traffic stop. Police arrested him and he will be held until he can appear before a judge. He faces a complicity to commit second-degree kidnapping charge, a Class 3 felony.

Monty Ray Turner
Monty Ray Turner (credit: Longmont Police)

Brandy Turner spoke to the media on Sunday after receiving the news that her son was safe.

"I don't know how much he understands. He just knows … but I did talk to him about coming home. He said, 'I'm coming home?' And I said, 'Yeah, I'm going to come and I'm going to get you. I'm going to bring you home.' He turned around to the lady and said, 'I'm going home,' " Brandy Turner said. "I feel great. I'm still exhausted but I'm just so thankful."

Luke and Brandy Turner
Luke and Brandy Turner (credit: Longmont Times-Call)

Brandy Turner had a restraining order against Monty Turner preventing him from contact with her and her son.

"Obviously it was planned. He had the pepper spray, he had the Taser, he had a bike with a baby seat on it," Brandy Turner said. "It appears he had somebody waiting with a vehicle to get him out of there."

Brandy Turner said Monty Turner displayed some bizarre behavior leading up to the abduction. She believes her estranged husband was watching her before the kidnapping. She showed CBS4's Heather Burke peepholes that were drilled in her garage. She thinks Monty was hiding there, but when she went to take out the trash she says he made the attack.

"Little peepholes to spy on us to get the right timing to get into the house. He picked the perfect time when he knew I had walked outside," she said.

Longmont police say they are still investigating that part of the case.

Police hope mother and son will be reunited some time Monday. They also hope to get Monty Turner extradited to Colorado. He could face stricter charges if convicted for crossing the U.S. border.

Police say it is the second time Monty Turner took his son away from his mother. Last July Luke and Monty Turner went missing for 8 months.

LONGMONT KIDNAPPING MAP
(credit: CBS)

"Dad went on a vacation with his child and never came home; and stayed with family members," Satur said. "He kept the child hidden from this mother."

In March police brought Luke Turner home unharmed and because both parents had custody, no crime was committed. But police say this time was different.

Luke Turner
Luke Turner (credit: Longmont Police Department)
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