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Updated: Tip line call led police to three-year-old abducted from Sudbury

William Gooden dropped off with his mother at the Rainbow Mall on Monday afternoon, but was never returned to his guardian

Updated May 14 at 9 a.m.

Greater Sudbury Police say it was a call to their tip line that led to three-year-old William Gooden being found safe in Toronto alongside his mother after an Amber Alert was issued early Tuesday morning.

The preschooler was last seen by his guardian after he and his mother, 25-year-old Breana Gooden, were dropped off at the Rainbow Mall in Greater Sudbury at around noon Monday.

An Amber Alert was issued just before 5 a.m. Tuesday.

By just before 8 a.m., the Amber Alert was cancelled, as the mother and son were located by Toronto Police in good health at an address on Bruyeres Muse (that's in the Bathurst and Lake Shore area in downtown Toronto).

CP24 in Toronto reported the address proved to be a condo building near Fort York Boulevard and Lake Shore Avenue West. Police found the mother and son around 7:30 a.m. 

Greater Sudbury Police Service and Toronto Police's 14 Division are investigating.

Greater Sudbury Police say the boy is believed to have been abducted by his mother. Toronto Police have not yet confirmed if Breana Gooden has been arrested.

Sudbury police say they were in contact with William's guardian by midnight after he had not been returned home.

Police began checking places Breana Gooden is known to visit in Greater Sudbury, as well as the Greyhound and Ontario Northland bus stations. The woman does not have access to a vehicle, say Sudbury police.

At 3:05 a.m., police confirmed with an Ontario Northland employee that the mother and son boarded a bus to Toronto on Monday afternoon. The bus had arrived at the Bay Street bus station in Toronto at 6:50 p.m. Monday evening.

“Once again, thank you to everyone who provided information and shared the Amber Alert,” said a press release from Greater Sudbury Police.

“This proves that the alert system works and has resulted in safely locating an abducted child.”

Updated May 14 at 8 a.m.

Toronto Police have confirmed three-year-old William Gooden has been found safe with his mother, Breana Gooden, in the Bathhurst and Lakeshore area of downtown Toronto. Police would not confirm to national media if the mother was arrested.

The Amber Alert has been cancelled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original story:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Amber Alert was issued by Greater Sudbury Police shortly before 5 a.m. Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Police say there's been a child abduction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The victim is three-year-old William Gooden (a black male, three feet tall, heavy build, short black hair, wearing blue t-shirt, black pants, a red and white jacket and a Montreal Canadiens ball cap).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The suspect is 25-year-old Breana Gooden (a black female, 150 pounds, 5-6 inches tall, with black, shoulder-length hair in a ponytail, wearing a black sweater and tights, a black and gold mini-skirt and pink and white shoes, has a tattoo of a lion on her left forearm and a peace sign on her right forearm).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They were last seen on a bus heading from Sudbury to Toronto.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If observed, phone 911.