INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – A child, forcibly taken in Orlando, is presumably safe following the arrest of a suspect in Indian River County.
The arrest concluded the manhunt, part of the Orlando Child Abduction Response Team’s mock exercise to seek certification.
The event is part of a two-day review by Fox Valley Technical College during which the team will seek certification from the U.S. Department of Justice. The assessment will test the responses of CART team members and evaluate communication protocols, leads tracking systems, command post operations and search and rescue efforts.
After authorities spotted the suspect’s vehicle, a gray 2003 Ford Mustang on I-95, they began tracking the vehicle and following up on leads.
The mock suspect – Simon Slime – was described as a 40-something-year-old registered sex offender.
According to the mock Amber Alert, he had taken 11-year-old Lara Lost and the pair was last seen together in Brevard County.
Authorities were able to stop Slime’s vehicle behind the county jail and took him into custody, where he remains for questioning.
Indian River County Sgt. Nancy McNally said they would interview Slime and continue the investigation, working with the State Attorney’s Office and other agencies. They would also notify the originating agency that the Sheriff’s Office had nabbed their suspect.
Once the exercise is done, the Fox Valley Technical College will assess the work done and determine whether the Orlando Child Abduction Response Team should receive certification from the Department of Justice.
