Citizen finds missing girls in abandoned car at Pasco restaurant

An Amber Alert was briefly issued for two Pasco girls who were inside a car that police say was stolen and later abandoned.

A citizen saw the alert on his phone as he was parking next to the Honda Civic at Wendy’s on Court Street, within ten blocks of where the car was stolen, police said.

The man called police and the children were returned home safely.

The Civic was stolen from an apartment complex on West Jay Street on Monday at 6:45 p.m., police said. The children, ages 1 and 3, were in car seats in the back.

A short while later, an Amber Alert was issued, which triggers a message that is sent to cell phones across the state.

The man spotted the car, which was still running, about 8:10 p.m. and called police.

Police are working to identify a suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call 509-545-3421.

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 9:59 AM with the headline "Citizen finds missing girls in abandoned car at Pasco restaurant."