FAYETTEVILLE — A 28-year-old Springdale man faces felony charges after police said he picked up his 13-year-old girlfriend from school and left town.
Police arrested Rene Garcia, of 409 Kansas St. in connection with felony kidnapping, sexual indecency with a child and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He also faces charges from another department.
Fayetteville officers first arrested Garcia in October of last year in connection with having sex with the same 13-year-old girl.
On Friday at 9:43 a.m., officers were called to Owl Creek Elementary School for a report of a missing child.
Police issued a Morgan Nick Alert, which sends information across the state when a child is abducted, according to Fayetteville Police Sgt. Craig Stout.
“A Morgan Nick Alert is the same as an Amber Alert, but it’s specific to Arkansas,” Stout said. “It doesn’t happen very often. We issued it because we classified her as a missing and endangered juvenile.”
According to a preliminary arrest report, Arkansas State Police found Garcia and the girl on Interstate 540, near Mountainburg, about 11 a.m. Friday. Garcia reportedly lied about his identity to police.
The girl told police that she’s been in contact with Garcia since his arrest in October 2012, and prior to Christmas of last year, according to the report.
They reportedly communicated through text messages. Police said the girl skipped school about 10 times to meet with Garcia.
According to the report, they met in a park or at a house to have sex.
Garcia was arrested and taken to the Washington County Detention Center, where he was being held Saturday on $110,000 bond.