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Child Found In Citrus County Hours After Amber Alert Issued

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 24, 2008

Deputies in Citrus County found a 2-year-old girl this morning hours after authorities in South Carolina issued an Amber Alert for the child.

Acting on a tip from the Lancaster, S.C., Sheriff's Office, deputies found the pickup truck described in the alert parked at a home in Homosassa in Citrus County.

The tip from South Carolina said that Brian Hatchel and his daughter, Jaelyn Hollis, were staying with a friend of Hatchel.

As deputies approached the house about 11:15 a.m., Hatchel came out carrying the girl, said Gail Tierney, Citrus County sheriff's spokeswoman.

Hatchel told deputies he had no idea law enforcement agencies were looking for him or that an Amber Alert had been issued, Tierney said.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division issued the alert at 7:05 a.m. today.
The girl was unharmed and was taken by Citrus sheriff's child protective investigators who are making arrangements with family members for her return to South Carolina.

Hatchel is in the Citrus County jail, held on a warrant from South Carolina charging him with abduction without ransom or assault and custodial interference, Tierney said.

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