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Suspect Arrested; Kidnapped Toddler Found In Alabama
February 9, 2011
A man wanted for kidnapping a 17-month-old toddler Tuesday night was arrested this morning, about an hour after the child was dropped off unharmed at the East Brewton Police Department.
Keith Square Sr., aka Keith Squaire Sr., 36, address unavailable, was taken into custody around 10 a.m. today by Pensacola Police Sgt. Stephen Davis and Detective James Gore and officers from the East Brewton Police Department.
He has been charged with kidnapping and was also wanted on a warrant from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for violation of probation.
Davis and Gore were interviewing one of the suspect’s relatives on Crenshaw Street in Brewton when the suspect walked up to them while they were outside, put his hands behind his back and turned himself in, said Capt. Paul Kelly.
Kelly said Square will be extradited to Pensacola as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the child’s mother – Monique Slater, 29, of Pensacola – was on her way to Brewton to be reunited with her son.
The suspect vowed that he and the child “would not be taken alive”, prompting a nationwide Amber Alert for the 17-month old boy, Keith Square, Jr. Prior to being found in East Brewton Wednesday morning, the toddler was last seen in the company of his mother’s ex-boyfriend Keith Square Sr. after 9 p.m. Tuesday in the area of the Century Woods Apartments at 20 West Highway 4, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
While Square’s current address is unknown, Escambia County Circuit Court records indicate he is a former resident of Blackmon Street in Century.
Pensacola Police Department Sgt. Stephen Davis said the mother and her son were visiting friends in the 1200 block of Cervantes Street in Pensacola Tuesday when the suspect showed up and asked to take the baby to see some friends.
Davis said the mother agreed. A short time later, the suspect Square called Slater and told her she would never see the baby again. Pensacola Police said Square called Slater several times threatening to harm the baby and also said that he and the baby “would not be taken alive.”
The vehicle believed to have been used in the kidnapping was later located in Brewton Tuesday night, where the driver told Brewton Police that the suspect and baby were dropped off at a residence near Century Woods.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department unsuccessfully checked several possible suspect locations including homes on Blackmon Street and West Highway 4 Tuesday night in an effort to the find the child.
Police said Square is not the biological father of the child, and the mother has sole legal custody. Square has an extensive criminal history including arrests for aggravated battery, robbery, vehicle theft, and battery.
(Editor’s note: The story corrects the last name of the mother to Slater, not Salter as originally reported by the Pensacola Police Department.)
Pictured: Kidnapping suspect Keith Square.
Comments
27 Responses to “Suspect Arrested; Kidnapped Toddler Found In Alabama”
Both parties are perfect material for the Jerry Springer or Maury show!!!
I agree with you Alice. I personally don’t think the baby was in danger from this guy. I think he loves the boy and was acting out against the mother. There’s probably a lot of facts here that none of us know.
Ok. Im glad the baby is well, but Im not sure that wasnt always the case. Also, mom has a criminal record too and is on probation. This just sounds like a case of “baby momma got mad at baby daddy”…(err…baby daddy stand-in).
Im a resident of Brewton and live close to where this happened. I was also infomred that the child in questions has been with this man since Thanksgiving. But you didnt hear the mom saying that did you!
I am so glad to hear that this baby is alive, in most cases; they don’t come out this lucky. But thank the good lord above, for watching over…
Remember no man nor women has the last say so. Lets thank the man above and give him all the praises. Glad to hear nd see the child is alive nd well.
This guy has a record of being in trouble, and I’m not excusing what he did by taking this child, but I also think the mother of this child probably was jerking around with him as far as the paternity of the child. The child carries his name and he thought (until recently) that he was the biological father. Seems he isn’t, and I have a feeling that this fact had something to do with his taking the child.. I’m not saying he shouldn’t be held accountable for what he did, but perhaps the child’s mother needs to slow down and be sure next time (and there most likely will be a next time) before giving the child the wrong last name. Just my opinion!!
Sounds to me like he had second thoughts or wanted to go back to prison where he use to being. Really glad it worked out for the child. I can not imaginge someone stealing my child that had to have put the family and friends torough a lot of misery. Glad to know all is well.
Miracles continue to happen everyday! Thank you JESUS, and everyone involved in getting this child returned to his mother.
You are so right, Edna. Thank you, Jesus!! So glad he was found and especially not hurt!!! It’s a scary situation.
Thank God this baby is safe! Great coverage, William!
Answered prayer!
THANK YOU JESUS. The child is returned and safe. What a true blessing.
Glad everything worked out.Not sure why that mom let her baby go with him in the first place.Good thing the child is safe now,God was watching over him.
Thank’s for the quick updates William.I’m with Darwin when do you sleep?
Wow William….even Darwin is a fan!!! Great job – as always, reporting the BREAKING news almost as it happens!! Thanks for what you do….
I’m grateful this little guy was found safe…..
I cancelled my subscription to the PNJ some time ago because North Escambia covers virtually anything that is newsworthy almost as soon as it happens! I honestly do not know how you guys do it, but keep it up! Regarding this story, I thank the Lord that the child was returned safely.. Maybe now this guy will turn himself in and explain his actions..
Congrats to you, William!
We (Local 15) used northescambia.com as one of our sources for our coverage this morning and credited you with the more intimate information. You are always on top of events in the northern part of our viewing area, and I check your site several times a day! Great work. When do you sleep????
Hey Mom,
Might want to think about who you let your child associate with. Did you know all this criminal history and still let the child go with him? Think.
good job, william…youre on it!
God is Great!
PNJ updated story at 9:50 a.m.
I have to give praises to William for being the best and only source of information in our neck of the woods. If you check Channel 3, they never know anything. If you check PNJ, they never know anything either. This is the ONLY place to find what you want to know.
Congrats, William, on being the best media source in the area.
Praise the Lord!
Like everyone else I’m sure, I am very very happy that this child will not pay
anymore for having this horrible man in his life.
It certainly is amazing how fast this small one man paper is at bringing us
important up to date news.
Thanks William and I’m not just blowing smoke here you do a great job and
there are many of us who appreciate you.
I”m so happy this thug did not harm this baby!!!! William thank you for doing a wonderful job on reporting. As usual WEAR and PNJ have not posted that the baby has been located.
I’m so glad this baby has been found safe. Can’t wait for more info to come up!