Tuesday, June 23rd, 2015
Local Amber Alert helps officers find children
By Daily Standard Staff
By WILLIAM KINCAID
and KATHY THOMPSON
newsdept@dailystandard.com
CELINA - Celina police on Sunday afternoon issued an Amber Alert through the state system after receiving a call from a woman who feared for her children's lives, according to assistant police chief Cal Freeman.
The suspect was later apprehended by Celina police officers in St. Marys, and the children were found unharmed, he said.
The Amber Alter was then canceled.
At 3:45 p.m. Sunday, a woman told police the father of her sons, ages 2 and 11 months, had met her at a designated spot to pick up the children for a visit. During the meeting, the father, Phillip E. Schmidt, 41, reportedly got into an argument with the woman and she felt he would place the children in danger, Freeman said. He allegedly said the woman would never see the children again, according to the assistant chief said.
Celina police immediately issued an Amber Alert throughout the state, Freeman said. Police officers located Schmidt at a family gathering at 8:30 p.m. in St. Marys, he added.
Schmidt was arrested for domestic violence and interference with custody, first-degree misdemeanors, and obstruction of justice, a second-degree misdemeanor, according to Freeman. He made his initial appearance in Celina Municipal Court on Monday and a pretrial hearing is July 8.
Schmidt is being held at the Mercer County Detention Center without bond.
Schmidt in the past has been charged with nonsupport, disorderly conduct, telecommunications harassment, corruption of a minor, assault, receiving stolen property and aggravated menacing, according to court records.
Celina Mayor Jeff Hazel on Monday night praised the efforts of the Celina Police Department and the state.
"They did put out an Amber Alert," Hazel told city council members. "The state agencies that stepped up to the plate when it got to that point, let me just say, we applaud them. We were absolutely amazed. They gave our police department resources and research that they couldn't get on their own."
State officials helped track down the dealer plate on a new car involved in the incident, Hazel said.
"They tracked it down, went GPS and found it in St. Marys and they were able to apprehend and get the children back safely," Hazel said. "I think you need to know how hard our police department does work to go after that."
