Two half-brothers taken from an Oceanside home, allegedly by the father of one of the boys after a domestic violence incident involving their mother, were found safe at a Long Beach motel Tuesday, authorities said.
Daijon West Jr., 9, and 10-year-old Jamel Oliver were taken from the 2300 block of Greenbrier Drive around 4:10 p.m. Monday, according to Oceanside police Lt. Leonard Cosby.
Before driving off with the boys, Daijon West, the father of the younger child, allegedly injured his wife following an argument over dirty laundry and threatened a person who tried to come to her aid, Cosby said.
Officers found the boys' mother, identified as Amber Brittian, running away from her alleged assailant and trying to hide behind parked cars, he said.
West, 29, fled in a gray 2010 Honda Accord and brandished a rifle as he was driving away with the two boys, Cosby alleged.
An officer later spoke to the suspect over the phone and urged him to return the boys — the older child is the woman's son from a previous relationship, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported — but he allegedly refused. Investigators reportedly tracked him to Long Beach via his cell phone signal.
Oceanside police contacted their Long Beach counterparts, who located West around 4:45 a.m. at the Colonial Motel Long Beach at 802 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Cosby said.
One of the boys was found inside the suspect's car and was taken into protective custody shortly before West surrendered and brought out the other boy, Cosby said.
He said the boys would be released to the custody of Child Protective Services and West would be booked into the Vista Detention Facility on suspicion of felony spousal abuse, brandishing a firearm and felony child abuse.
