A 40-year-old man is in police custody after allegedly abducting his own child from a northeast parking lot on Friday evening.
Police responded to the parking lot of the Chili’s restaurant in the 2400 block of 37 Ave. N.E. at approximately 8:00 p.m. Friday following reports a nine-month-old child had been kidnapped following an altercation between the boy’s parents. The suspect left the scene in a taxi.
The disappearance prompted members of the Calgary Police Service to issue an amber alert.
“In this instance, based on the threat assessment that we did when the call was initiated, we believed it met the criteria of an amber alert,” said CPS Duty Insp. Mike Tillotson. “It’s the right thing to do when we’re dealing with a nine month old child.”
At approximately 4:30 a.m. Saturday, the child was handed to police in the parking lot of a McDonalds restaurant in the southeast community of Riverbend. The infant was in good health.
“The police were contacted by associates of this male who gave us information about where the child was located and then ultimately turned the child over to us,” said Insp. Tillotson. “The father was arrested nearby.”
Christian Jovanovic, the infant’s father, was arrested Saturday morning. Charges are pending against the 40-year-old man who has a history with police.
Police expect to charge the suspect in connection to the abduction. Jovanovic is expected to face additional charges including:
- Two counts of uttering threats
- Three counts of breaching conditions
Police believe the child's parents are currently involved in a custody dispute.
