Amber Alert: ‘He stole my kids!’ dad says after SUV with 3 children taken

A suspect, identified as 33-year-old Howard Mullis of Cleves, is in custody accused of stealing the SUV with the three children inside — two 4-year-olds and a 1-year-old, while the father theft them alone to go into the Pit Stop convenience store on West Galbraith Road.

The incident triggered an Amber Alert and massive search that also included the children’s father who hopped inside a witness’ car so they could follow the SUV.

The boy and two girls are Cameron Wells, 4, Camiyah Fields, 4, and Laiyah Wells, 1, according to the Amber Alert, which has since been canceled.

“I’m in the car with somebody. We’re chasing him. He stole my kids!”

The driver told the 911 dispatcher he just happened to be there when the auto theft and kidnapping suspect took off. “I saw what happened so I said, ‘Come on!’ ” and urged the children’s father to get inside.

The thief sped off and crossed the center line several times trying to elude them, police said.

“We were so close. We were right there ... Oh, God, he was flying,” the driver said on the 911 call.

The suspect got away from them, but after a harrowing 90 minutes, the children were reunited with family.

The children and SUV were found around 4:30 p.m. at 8401 Colerain Ave., outside America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses near Walmart. An employee noticed the vehicle, a silver 2004 Volkswagen Touareg, in the lot and called police, WCPO reported.

Mullis was apprehended around 5:30 p.m., police said. He is being held in the Hamilton County Justice Center.

Family members declined to speak to WCPO after the incident.

Police have not released further details about what charges Mullins faces.

UPDATE @ 5 p.m.

Three children who were the subject of an Amber Alert were found in a shopping center parking lot off Colerain Avenue, WCPO reported.

The Amber Alert has been canceled.

The children and the vehicle were found just after 4:30 outside America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, near Walmart, at 8401 Colerain Ave.

The suspect has not been found but is believed to be nearby.

FIRST REPORT

An Amber Alert is in effect for three young children missing from Colerain Twp. in suburban Cincinnati.

The boy and two younger girls are Cameron Wells, 4, Camiyah Fields, 3, and Laiyah Wells, 1.

They were last seen with Howard Mullis, 33, of Cleves, in a silver 2004 Volkswagen Touareg with Ohio license plate HIM7552.

Mullis is identified as a man who allegedly stole the SUV with the three children alone inside around 3 p.m. while their father was inside the Pit Stop convenience store on West Galbraith Road, our media partners at WCPO reported.

Anyone with information is urged to call 911 or the Colerain Police Department, 513-321-2677.

Got a tip? Call our monitored 24-hour line, 937-259-2237, or send it to newsdesk@cmgohio.com.