Group of unlikely heroes honored for saving 2-year-old Avondale girl from kidnapping

PHOENIX — The Avondale Police Department awarded a QuikTrip security guard and a team of movers for their swift action in helping rescue an abducted toddler over the weekend.

The rescue took place on Sunday, Feb. 22. Skyler Emmons, a security guard at the QuikTrip on 27th Avenue and Thomas Road in Phoenix, noticed something was amiss when he saw a little girl who looked exactly like Kehlani Rodgers, the 2‑year‑old featured in an Amber Alert issued on Saturday.

“The picture, it just kind of was in the back of my mind, and seeing her in the store, it just kind of clicked like a puzzle piece,” Emmons told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Thursday during the award ceremony.

Kehlani was last been seen near 118th and Edgemont avenues on Friday, Feb. 20, around 11:30 p.m. Her parents discovered she was missing around 5 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21. Rodgers’ parents contacted police after about three hours of unsuccessful searching.

“I was just swiping left and right, left and right through my photos — and same hairline, same braids that she wore — the perfect description that the Amber Alert had described,” Emmons said.

Avondale police reward QuikTrip security guard, Camelback Moving Inc.

Emmons quickly called 911 to let them know that the toddler was in his store — a conversation that was overheard by Kevin Place, an employee of Camelback Moving Inc.

“He showed me a picture of her and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s her,’” Place said.

From there, Place alerted his team. He went outside to get the license plate number of the car being driven by 23-year-old Marina Noriega, the woman who is suspected of kidnapping Kehlani.

The movers then decided to use their moving trucks to block her vehicle. Squad cars then pulled into the parking lot, rescuing Kehlani and arresting Noriega.

President of moving company proud of team for helping girl from Amber Alert

Chad Olsen, the president of Camelback Moving, Inc., said he’s proud and grateful for his team for helping to save Kehlani.

“People get angry, we get calls. This is the first time we’ve had the whole community behind us,” Olsen said. “Everyone’s happy that we blocked someone in.”

The Avondale Police Department honored Emmons and the team of movers with a Good Samaritan Award for their heroic actions that led to Kehlani’s safe and sound return.

“Not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes they arrive in moving trucks and bring dollies,” Olsen said.

Place was humble about being given the award.

“I don’t feel like a hero,” he said. “There are people who are doing this every day and don’t get any credit … (I was) just a regular guy in the right spot.”

Related

Missing 2-year-old Avondale girl found safe at Phoenix gas station, suspect arrestedAvondale Amber Alert suspect was 'random woman' who allegedly smoked meth during abductionFormer Habitat for Humanity executive director sentenced for embezzling $826K from nonprofitArizona opens $1 million in recycling grants for businesses, schools and local governmentsUFC, WWE and PBR announce 7 events coming to Phoenix area as part of landmark dealSAFE Alert issued for man last seen at grocery store in Phoenix