An Indiana man's plan to abduct his children broken up by Florida law enforcement

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A reported child abduction in Florida ended with the children recovered by law enforcement and charges against a Franklin man who works as a Shelbyville chiropractor.

On July 14, just after 2 p.m., Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence in the Z-section of Palm Coast in response to a reported child abduction. According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office the reporting party stated the biological father of two juvenile children, who does not have custody or legal authority over the children, had entered into the residence, pushed a family member, and forcefully took the children from within the home before driving away in a Toyota Sienna minivan.

Deputies immediately began to canvass the area for the suspect’s vehicle as FCSO’s Real Time Crime Center and Communications Division alerted nearby agencies of the vehicle’s description and situation. FCSO’s Major Case Unit immediately began working with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to display an Amber Alert for the juvenile children, a 3-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy.

Through investigative means, with assistance from the St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol, the Flagler County Sheriff's Office says the suspect’s vehicle was quickly located on 1-10 West. FHP and JSO conducted a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle just after 3:30 p.m. The children were rescued and the biological father, Derek Jordan, 39, was arrested.

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office detectives reunited the children with their custodial parent. Detectives also interviewed  Jordan, who admitted to planning and then traveling to Flagler County to commit the abduction.

Jordan was arrested for two counts of Kidnapping a Minor under 13, Aggravated Battery on a Person over 65, and Burglary of a Dwelling with Assault or Battery. He was initially being held in the Duval County Jail without bond pending his return to Flagler County's Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility.

Jordan is listed as a licensed chiropractor with Shelby Pain and Spine in Shelbyville.

“This was outstanding teamwork between all agencies involved and our network of Real Time Crime Centers,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Our RTCC and our Major Case detectives were a buzz of activity and resulted in the quick apprehension of the suspect and the safe return of the children. With our technology we were able to actually watch the traffic stop and arrest of the suspect two counties away on I-10. This is a great example of why we started a RTCC and invested in our technology. I’m very proud of our team and all the partners that assisted in bringing this case to a quick and safe reunion to the appropriate parent/guardian.”

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