Updated: Chattanooga police find Thomas in non-custodial parent kidnapping case

Crime scene tile
Crime scene tile

Update at 4:45 p.m. Friday: Police say Tony Thomas and the children have been located in Toledo, Ohio. He's in custody in Lucas County and awaiting extradition. The children were unharmed, police say. The investigation is ongoing.

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A non-custodial parent kidnapped his two toddlers from a local child care center Thursday evening.

At about 5:10 p.m. Thursday the Chattanooga Police Department responded to 1009 Sheridan Ave. at the Tender Loving Care Academy for a custodial kidnapping.

Officers learned that the father, Tony Thomas (non-custodial parent), of Isaiha Thomas Kitchens, 3, and Joseph Darrell Kitchens, 1, picked up the children at the academy without the mother's consent.

Thomas left in an unknown make/model SUV, gray in color, with temporary Michigan plates and was heading toward Wilcox Boulevard with the children.

Police have been unsuccessful in locating Thomas and the children but continue to search.

Warrants are being filed against Thomas at this time. The children are not believed to be in immediate danger. No further description of Thomas or the children is available. It is believed that Thomas my be going back to Michigan with the children.

Police ask anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Thomas to call 423-698-2525. The investigation is ongoing.

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