Hot Beautiful Angel on Wheels's blog: "Amber Alerts"

By Brian Krans, bkrans@qconline.com

Davenport police issued a nationwide bulletin Monday for a missing 5-year-old Bettendorf girl after her grandmother was charged with concealing her location.

The girl, the daughter of Melissa Thomas of Bettendorf, is believed to be with an aunt, Michelle Carroll, 46, en route to Lehigh Township, Penn.

Davenport police Capt. David Struckman said an Amber Alert wasn't warranted in the case.

"We don't believe the child is in any danger," he said. "The main concern is the welfare of the child."

Meanwhile, the child's grandmother, Sally Ann Carmichael, 64, of Davenport, has been charged in Scott County with child stealing, a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The girl was staying with her grandmother over the weekend at 1000 Blythwood Place because Ms. Thomas suspected that her electricity would be shut off, Capt. Struckman said.

Capt. Struckman said in a press release that "it is alleged" that over the weekend, bruises and other signs of abuse were found on the child when she was taken to an area hospital for treatment of an upper respiratory condition.

While Ms. Carmichael claims she contacted the Iowa Department of Human Services about the suspected abuse, Capt. Struckman said she didn't. Because police have not been able to see or interview the child, they don't know if the abuse claims are legitimate.

Without the mother's knowledge, Ms. Carmichael called Ms. Carroll, who has custody of another of Ms. Thomas' children, to drive from Pennsylvania to Davenport to get the 5-year-old, according to an affidavit filed in Scott County District Court.

Ms. Thomas reported to police Sunday evening that Ms. Carmichael wouldn't return her daughter, Capt. Struckman said. Since Ms. Thomas is the custodial guardian of the girl, Ms. Carmichael had no legal right to deprive her mother of custody.

When contacted by police, Ms. Carmichael told them her other daughter had the child and should have already been in Pennsylvania.

Police arrested Ms. Carmichael and issued a bulletin through the National Crime Information Center database, which connects law enforcement nationwide. A "pick up" order has been issued.

The difficulty in locating the girl and her aunt is that Ms. Carmichael wouldn't give police a description of the car, or Ms. Thomas' address or phone number, Capt. Struckman said.

"Grandma's not being cooperative," Capt. Struckman said. "We got some information from other sources where they might be."

Ms. Carmichael made a first court appearance on the charges Monday morning. An attorney is scheduled to appear for her this morning. She was in the Scott County Jail late Monday on $10,000 bond.

Capt. Struckman said Ms. Thomas has an "extensive record" with the Davenport Police Department, including arrests in 2006 for second-degree theft and child endangerment. She used her child in a shoplifting attempt at SuperTarget in Davenport, he said.

The case is being investigated by Davenport and Bettendorf police, along with DHS.

As of late Monday, Davenport police said they have been in contact with Ms. Carroll, but said they could not say the status of the child's whereabouts.

Davenport police issued a nationwide bulletin Monday for a missing 5-year-old Bettendorf girl after her grandmother was charged with concealing her location.

The girl, the daughter of Melissa Thomas of Bettendorf, is believed to be with an aunt, Michelle Carroll, 46, en route to Lehigh Township, Penn.

Davenport police Capt. David Struckman said an Amber Alert wasn't warranted in the case.

"We don't believe the child is in any danger," he said. "The main concern is the welfare of the child."

Meanwhile, the child's grandmother, Sally Ann Carmichael, 64, of Davenport, has been charged in Scott County with child stealing, a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The girl was staying with her grandmother over the weekend at 1000 Blythwood Place because Ms. Thomas suspected that her electricity would be shut off, Capt. Struckman said.

Capt. Struckman said in a press release that "it is alleged" that over the weekend, bruises and other signs of abuse were found on the child when she was taken to an area hospital for treatment of an upper respiratory condition.

While Ms. Carmichael claims she contacted the Iowa Department of Human Services about the suspected abuse, Capt. Struckman said she didn't. Because police have not been able to see or interview the child, they don't know if the abuse claims are legitimate.

Without the mother's knowledge, Ms. Carmichael called Ms. Carroll, who has custody of another of Ms. Thomas' children, to drive from Pennsylvania to Davenport to get the 5-year-old, according to an affidavit filed in Scott County District Court.

Ms. Thomas reported to police Sunday evening that Ms. Carmichael wouldn't return her daughter, Capt. Struckman said. Since Ms. Thomas is the custodial guardian of the girl, Ms. Carmichael had no legal right to deprive her mother of custody.

When contacted by police, Ms. Carmichael told them her other daughter had the child and should have already been in Pennsylvania.

Police arrested Ms. Carmichael and issued a bulletin through the National Crime Information Center database, which connects law enforcement nationwide. A "pick up" order has been issued.

The difficulty in locating the girl and her aunt is that Ms. Carmichael wouldn't give police a description of the car, or Ms. Thomas' address or phone number, Capt. Struckman said.

"Grandma's not being cooperative," Capt. Struckman said. "We got some information from other sources where they might be."

Ms. Carmichael made a first court appearance on the charges Monday morning. An attorney is scheduled to appear for her this morning. She was in the Scott County Jail late Monday on $10,000 bond.

Capt. Struckman said Ms. Thomas has an "extensive record" with the Davenport Police Department, including arrests in 2006 for second-degree theft and child endangerment. She used her child in a shoplifting attempt at SuperTarget in Davenport, he said.

The case is being investigated by Davenport and Bettendorf police, along with DHS.

As of late Monday, Davenport police said they have been in contact with Ms. Carroll, but said they could not say the status of the child's whereabouts.

Davenport police issued a nationwide bulletin Monday for a missing 5-year-old Bettendorf girl after her grandmother was charged with concealing her location.

The girl, the daughter of Melissa Thomas of Bettendorf, is believed to be with an aunt, Michelle Carroll, 46, en route to Lehigh Township, Penn.

Davenport police Capt. David Struckman said an Amber Alert wasn't warranted in the case.

"We don't believe the child is in any danger," he said. "The main concern is the welfare of the child."

Meanwhile, the child's grandmother, Sally Ann Carmichael, 64, of Davenport, has been charged in Scott County with child stealing, a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The girl was staying with her grandmother over the weekend at 1000 Blythwood Place because Ms. Thomas suspected that her electricity would be shut off, Capt. Struckman said.

Capt. Struckman said in a press release that "it is alleged" that over the weekend, bruises and other signs of abuse were found on the child when she was taken to an area hospital for treatment of an upper respiratory condition.

While Ms. Carmichael claims she contacted the Iowa Department of Human Services about the suspected abuse, Capt. Struckman said she didn't. Because police have not been able to see or interview the child, they don't know if the abuse claims are legitimate.

Without the mother's knowledge, Ms. Carmichael called Ms. Carroll, who has custody of another of Ms. Thomas' children, to drive from Pennsylvania to Davenport to get the 5-year-old, according to an affidavit filed in Scott County District Court.

Ms. Thomas reported to police Sunday evening that Ms. Carmichael wouldn't return her daughter, Capt. Struckman said. Since Ms. Thomas is the custodial guardian of the girl, Ms. Carmichael had no legal right to deprive her mother of custody.

When contacted by police, Ms. Carmichael told them her other daughter had the child and should have already been in Pennsylvania.

Police arrested Ms. Carmichael and issued a bulletin through the National Crime Information Center database, which connects law enforcement nationwide. A "pick up" order has been issued.

The difficulty in locating the girl and her aunt is that Ms. Carmichael wouldn't give police a description of the car, or Ms. Thomas' address or phone number, Capt. Struckman said.

"Grandma's not being cooperative," Capt. Struckman said. "We got some information from other sources where they might be."

Ms. Carmichael made a first court appearance on the charges Monday morning. An attorney is scheduled to appear for her this morning. She was in the Scott County Jail late Monday on $10,000 bond.

Capt. Struckman said Ms. Thomas has an "extensive record" with the Davenport Police Department, including arrests in 2006 for second-degree theft and child endangerment. She used her child in a shoplifting attempt at SuperTarget in Davenport, he said.

The case is being investigated by Davenport and Bettendorf police, along with DHS.

As of late Monday, Davenport police said they have been in contact with Ms. Carroll, but said they could not say the status of the child's whereabouts.