Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 21:06
The California Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert on Wednesday afternoon for three children believed abducted from Ridgecrest. By evening, authorities confirmed the children were found unharmed and the suspect was in custody.
The alert, issued on behalf of the Ridgecrest Police Department, sought 10-year-old Maximus Roman, 8-year-old Kaiser Roman, and 4-year-old Hailee Roman. They were last seen around 11:30 a.m. near East Coso Avenue and East Las Flores Avenue in Ridgecrest, according to CHP. The suspect, 29-year-old Julio Roman-Garcia, was described as 5'11" and 400 pounds, driving a 2014 gray Honda Accord with California plate 9RUN898. He was last seen wearing a black long-sleeve shirt and black sweatpants.
At approximately 4:45 p.m., Ridgecrest Police confirmed the children were located safe and the suspect was taken into custody. No further details were immediately released about where the children or suspect were found. The Amber Alert had been active for Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, and San Luis Obispo counties.
Ridgecrest, a city in Kern County near the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, was the focus of the multi-county search. The alert mobilized law enforcement across Southern California, with 911 calls urged from anyone who spotted the vehicle or children.
Amber Alerts are issued in California when a child is believed abducted and at risk of serious harm. The system relies on public help via media and highway signs. This alert was resolved positively within hours.
The swift recovery of the children and arrest of the suspect highlight the effectiveness of the Amber Alert system. Authorities thanked the public for their vigilance.
