WICHITA — Wichita police say they have found a 2-year-old girl safe and arrested her mother in connection with the case.
Officers arrested 34-year-old Ronetta Clement in the 2400 block of South St. Clair Monday evening and booked her for felony interference with law enforcement (false information concerning death or disappearance of a child).
“Her arrest follows an extensive investigation into her allegations that her child’s father had placed their 2-year-old daughter in danger,” Capt. Brent Allred said.
Police asked for the community’s help Sunday night after officers responded to a report of a suicidal person in the 2300 block of North Woodlawn. Clement told officers that the father refused to return custody of the girl and that he made some homicidal and suicidal statements, according to Capt. Allred.
“Based on this information, an ‘attempt to locate’ was issued on the 2-year-old and her father so that their welfare could be checked and so that officers could investigate what actually occurred.”
Investigators received information Monday afternoon that contradicted what Clements told officers.
Authorities made contact with the toddler Monday evening at her grandmother’s home and “everything appeared to be fine,” Allred said. The girl’s father has active warrants and did not want to be contacted.
“Our main concern is the welfare of the child,” said Allred. “We still want to talk to him about it, and I’m sure at some point in time he’ll want to talk to us about it.”
Clement was held without bond Tuesday morning. The case will be presented to the district attorney’s office.
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