This is a press release from the Ukiah Police Department. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On June 14th at approximately 3:10pm, Ukiah PD Officers were dispatched to North Coast Opportunities, located at 413 N. State St. regarding a juvenile in danger, possibly kidnapped. It was reported that a vehicle had been stolen with a small child secured in a car seat in the back seat. Officers arrived at the scene and spoke to the victim, who was also the child’s mother.
The victim told Officers she parked her vehicle at the curb in front of North Coast Opportunities and exited the vehicle. She left the vehicle running, with the keys in the ignition, and her 1 year old child secured in a car seat in the back seat. The victim walked to the front door of North Coast Opportunities and knocked on the front door seeking parental assistance for her family. At the same time, the suspect, Christina Rojas saw the vehicle was still running, got into the driver’s seat and drove away. The victim saw the vehicle driving away with her child. The victim made contact with people inside North Coast Opportunities and immediately called police.
While UPD Officers were investigating, UPD Dispatch received a call from a person on Mazzoni St. This person stated an unknown female attempted to leave a child with them. They declined to take the child and the female drove away. The description of the female matched the description of Rojas and the vehicle matched the description of the victim’s vehicle.
Approximately 20 minutes later, Officer from the California Highway Patrol found the victims vehicle on Feedlot Lane in Ukiah. UPD Officers, along with MCSO Deputies responded to that location to investigate. They contacted Rojas while she was still in the vehicle and detained her. The 1 year old child was still secured in the back seat. The victim was taken to the scene and reunited with her child.
Rojas was ultimately arrested for vehicle theft, kidnapping, and child endangerment. She was booked at the Mendocino County Jail. The case will be reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office for possible charges against the victim for child endangerment.
Wow….scary!!!