Parents suspected in infant’s abduction arrested near Cloverdale

Two Oregon parents were arrested Wednesday morning near Cloverdale on suspicion of abducting their infant son, whose legal guardians are his grandparents.

Lars Dunaway, 25, and Kristen Sandidge, 23, both of Sutherlin, Ore., displayed signs of drug intoxication, according to the CHP.

A CHP officer and Cloverdale police officer found the Dodge Caravan that Dunaway was driving on the side of Highway 128 north of Cloverdale at 5:40 a.m. The vehicle had been driven for a considerable distance with a flat left front tire, which was worn down to the hub, the CHP said. The pair were with the vehicle, and officers noticed signs of intoxication in both parents.

Dunaway was wearing only shorts and shoes while the temperature was in the mid-30s, according to the CHP. As officers talked to Sandidge, she grabbed the car seat with the 3-month-old baby inside and attempted to flee. The CHP officer and a Sonoma County sheriff’s deputy chased her, secured the infant and placed Sandidge under arrest.

An investigation found that the infant’s grandparents in Oregon have legal custody of the child and the parents had fled the state with him. The child was taken to the Cloverdale Police Department, where officers and residents brought in clothing, formula, diapers and other items for him. Child Protection Services returned the child to his grandparents later Wednesday.

Dunaway was booked on suspicion of DUI, being under the influence of a controlled substance, driving on a suspended license and child endangerment. Sandidge was booked on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance and resisting officers.