Moving crew explains how they helped save 2-year-old missing Avondale girl they saw in Amber Alert

PHOENIX — Quick-thinking movers helped rescue a missing 2‑year‑old girl after using their trucks to block a car from leaving a QuikTrip parking lot in Phoenix.

Kevin Place, who works for Camelback Moving Inc., said it started as a normal workday.

He had seen the Amber Alert for Kehlani Rogers the day before and had it in the back of his mind while he and the rest of the 8-man crew went to the gas station near 27th Avenue and Thomas Road on Sunday morning.

“I went in just to get my water,” Place told Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos on Monday. “I hear the security guard talking on the phone. I’m assuming he’s speaking to police. He says, ‘I think I see the little girl.'”

How did Camelback Moving team help rescue the missing Avondale girl?

Two of his coworkers, Ralph Vollmert and Rob Hernandez, stayed behind in one of the three trucks while Place went indoors.

“Kevin had came up to the driver door of the truck and was like, ‘Hey, the child’s in that truck,'” Vollmert said. “The driver of the truck — Rob — he was like, ‘What do you want to do, Kevin?’ Kevin said, ‘Let’s block ’em in.’ … So (Rob) took a bite of his food and said, ‘All right.'”

Place wrote down the license plate number and gave it to the security guard, Skyler Emmons. From there, he got into his own truck and turned on his vehicle’s camera so he would be able to give the footage to police.

Vollmert said the driver who is suspected of kidnapping Kehlani — 23-year-old Marina Noriega — didn’t try to leave, even though the trucks were blocking her exits.

“Right when we started seeing the squad cars pull into the parking lot, we moved our trucks and seven squad cars pulled in behind them,” Vollmert said.

Police then rescued the missing Avondale girl who was subject of Amber Alert

After that, police officers jumped out of their vehicles, rescued Kehlani and arrested Noriega.

Camelback Moving Inc. President Chad Olsen said he is “very proud” of his team for taking action.

The rest of the team who took part in delaying the vehicle until police arrived are Christopher Dixon, Kevin Kimes, Gerardo Galacia, Kobe Brown and Michael Macallum.

Kehlani had last been seen near 118th and Edgemont avenues around 11:30 p.m. Friday. Her parents realized she was missing around 5 a.m. Saturday and contacted police after searching unsuccessfully for about three hours, police said.

“Who knows what could have happened to her?” Place said. “I’m sure the intentions weren’t good. You don’t kidnap kids for good intentions.”

A week after the rescue, the crew — as well as the security guard whose vigilance started it all — received Good Samaritan awards from the Avondale Police Department.

Related

Avondale Amber Alert suspect was 'random woman' who allegedly smoked meth during abductionMissing 2-year-old Avondale girl found safe at Phoenix gas station, suspect arrested16 Handles offering freebies, discounts for grand opening of Scottsdale frozen yogurt shopPhoenix man accused of fatally attacking elderly roommate with construction helmet arrestedMan indicted on murder charge in fatal shooting at Phoenix gas stationWith Pocket Fire near Sedona 100% contained, officials significantly reduce closure area