5-year-old boy returned to his mother unharmed
A 5-year-old boy snatched from his mother by his biological father Thursday morning was returned to her unharmed several hours later, after Morgan Hill Police apprehended the father as he walked with the boy in south Morgan Hill.
“We were on the scene quickly and were able to set up a perimeter around the area,” MHPD Cmdr. Terrie Booten said Thursday afternoon. “We were preparing to conduct an extensive search when the call came in from a citizen who saw him with his son.”
Bruce W. Morris, 45, of Morgan Hill was arrested on Middle Avenue at approximately 11am after MHPD officers had established a perimeter around Venetian Way off of Watsonville Road, where the boy’s mother lives.
According to Booten, Morris was having an argument with the child’s mother when he took him from her home. As he left, he allegedly told the mother she would “never see him again,” and left on foot, leaving his car parked in the neighborhood.
No Amber Alert was issued because Morris was on foot, Booten said, and because officers were able to respond rapidly.
The Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit was called in, as well as SWAT team officers, but by the time they were ready for action, Morris had been spotted on Middle Avenue.
SWAT and other MHPD officers sped to the area, just a minutes away, and spotted Morris and his son.
Morris was quickly taken into custody without incident. The boy was returned to his mother at the residence.
No weapons were found on Morris, who was taken to Santa Clara County Jail on charges of parental abduction. Further charges could develop as the investigation continues, Booten said.
The boy was “healthy and in good spirits” when he was returned to his mother with a teddy bear from the department.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
