PGPD Charges Man With Kidnapping a Child Prompting Amber Alert

 

Ariel Florentino-Galeas

The Prince George’s County Police Department arrested and charged a man with kidnapping a child prompting an Amber Alert on Thursday evening. The suspect is 18-year-old Ariel Florentino-Galeas of Hyattsville. The child was located unharmed approximately two hours later.

On February 23, 2023, at approximately 6:20 pm, the suspect jumped into the victim’s running SUV at a gas station in the 5300 block of Ritchie Marlboro Road in the unincorporated section of Upper Marlboro. The owner’s three-year-old grandson was in the SUV. The grandfather immediately called 911. The Prince George’s County Police Department searched extensively for the child and the stolen SUV. 

Approximately two hours later, a driver called 911 after being the victim of a hit-and-run in the area of 56th Avenue and Hamilton Street in Riverdale. The driver described the striking SUV, which matched the one stolen in Upper Marlboro. Officers quickly responded to that area and, with the assistance of our Aviation Unit, located the SUV abandoned in the 5300 block of Farragut Street in the Riverdale area. The child was alone in the vehicle. He was unharmed and quickly reunited with his family. Officers continued the exhaustive search for the suspect, who was located and arrested at approximately 8:35 pm.

Florentino-Galeas is charged with kidnapping, reckless endangerment, theft, unauthorized removal of a motor vehicle, and additional charges. He is in the custody of the Department of Corrections.

If anyone has information on this case, they are asked to please call 301-390-2160. 

Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at  www.pgcrimesolvers.com , or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.) Please refer to case number 23-0011449.

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