Storm Lake, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — Three Algona men have been charged with taking a 3-year-old boy and 4-year-old girl from a Storm Lake home Sunday morning. One of the three was the children’s estranged father who was under a no-contact order. The children were in the car with the three men when they were stopped by authorities and were returned safely home.
The children’s mother reported that the men had entered her home in the 1400 block of North Seneca Street, physically assaulted her, took her cell phone, and the children. She says the men threatened to kill the kids if she called authorities. She was treated at the Emergency Room in Storm Lake. The children also received minor injuries in the abduction.
Assistant Police Chief Patrick Diekman says both an amber alert to the public and “be on the lookout” advisory to area law enforcement was issued. They were able to identify the vehicle and it’s direction of travel and it was stopped by the Algona Police Department, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and Iowa State Patrol.
24-year-old Carlos Daniel Garciarena was charged with two counts of child stealing, two counts of child endangerment causing bodily injury, first degree burglary, assault, impersonating a public office, and obstruction of emergency communications.
His alleged accomplices – 22-year-old Mailet De La Caridad Monteagrudo and 19-year-old Sammy Tarik Shamma of Algona were both charged with two counts of child stealing, first degree burglary, and impersonating a public official.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Resources, Buena Vista County Attorney’s Office, and Buena Vista Regional Medical Center also assisted.
Assistant Chief Diekman says the incident was an example of how technology and information-sharing can serve as valuable tools for law enforcement when seconds matter.
