CNN
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A 21-year-old sexual assault suspect accused of kidnapping three children over the course of two days was taken into custody Thursday, according to police in Wichita, Kansas.
All three children have been found and are safe, Wichita Police Department spokesperson Chad Ditch said at a press conference Thursday.
Ditch reported that a teenage girl was abducted Wednesday night by “a biracial man driving a blue car” who attempted to sexually assault her in her car. The boy was released by the suspect and reported the incident to his family. Authorities launched an investigation into the incident, investigating it overnight, Ditch added.
Ditch described the victim as being in her “early teens.”
Less than 24 hours later, two elementary school students (a boy and a girl) left home on foot to go to school before 9am. Police said the children were abducted by a man in a blue car who dropped the boy off shortly afterwards.
According to Ditch, the girl was found safe shortly after.
A brief chase on foot occurred after officers patrolling the area spotted the suspect’s vehicle and attempted to stop him. He was eventually taken into custody without incident, Ditch said.
Authorities did not identify the suspect’s name.
“Both of these cases are still in the early stages,” Ditch added. “We have investigators here who are actively investigating both cases. I strongly believe that there is.”
Authorities are continuing to investigate possible charges, Ditch said. The children are safe, but the experience was “very traumatic,” he said.
