The Springfield Police Department reported two-year-old Arukia Ganis missing from a retail business in Springfield at 2:52 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. She was believed to be in a black Ford F150 pickup truck with her biological parents, Frank Ganis and Arisha Caldwell.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol upgraded Arukia Ganis’ missing person status to an Amber Alert at around 4:45 p.m.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office received information from the Springfield Police Department that the suspects and the child were located south of Humansville in Polk County. Deputies responded to the area at around 5:30 p.m. and found the suspects in their vehicle.
The driver of the Ford pickup failed to stop, and the Polk County deputies initiated a pursuit.
The suspects traveled south through county roads and eventually began traveling northbound on Mo. 13. When they hit the Polk County and St. Clair County line, the suspects turned around and headed southbound on Mo. 13 while law enforcement continued to follow them.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, with the help of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, were able to stop the truck in Polk County at around 5:40 p.m.
Law enforcement found Frank Ganis and Caldwell in the vehicle, along with the missing two year old. She was unharmed.
Both suspects were arrested and transported to the Greene County Jail. They will remain in custody pending charges from the Springfield Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
“We are so thankful we were able to find Arukia and return her to safety,
” Polk County Sheriff Danny Morrison said. “It was a positive outcome to a scary situation. We’re thankful for the exceptional help we received from both the Springfield Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. This was truly a team effort.”
