East Ridge police arrest man in alleged kidnapping of son

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Arkansas-Ole Miss Live Blog
photo Jeffery Cocke, left, and Joseph Franklin

An East Ridge man was arrested Monday after allegedly taking custody of his son without the mother's permission.

Joseph Franklin does not have custodial rights to the child and was wanted for custodial interference at the time of the incident, Corporal R. Wade of the East Ridge Police Department said in a news release.

After the incident, an additional warrant was filed against Franklin for kidnapping.

Complainant Susan Cocke originally called police at 12:36 a.m. Monday after her 6-month-old son had been taken from her home by the child's father.

Cocke had left the child in the care of Franklin's sister while she left the residence to get medicine, but Franklin's sister was unaware that Franklin was not allowed to take the child, authorities said.

The sister did not realize Franklin was leaving the residence with the child until after he had left, Wade said.

East Ridge investigators spotted Franklin's vehicle at 162 Forrest Way in Whitfield County, Ga., about 11 a.m. Monday and performed a traffic stop soon after he left the location.

The infant was found unharmed and in good health inside that residence and in the care of Franklin's family members. Susan Cocke arrived at the scene and took custody of her child, authorities said.

Franklin was arrested on the scene and faces charges in East Ridge pending extradition from Whitfield County, Ga.