Indiana State Police trooper arrests kidnapping suspect

STEUBEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) — An Indiana State Police trooper found a kidnapping suspect and victim at the rest park on I-69 in Steuben County Saturday.

According to a release from Indiana State Police, Dekalb County Dispatch was searching for a 14-year-old, who had been picked up in Ionia, Michigan, by a man from Kentucky. They were given a vehicle description and suspect information from the Ionia County Sheriff’s Department, who had a warrant for the suspect for kidnapping.

An Indiana State Police Trooper found the matching vehicle at the rest park, near the 344-mile marker, just before 1:00 a.m.

After investigating, the trooper was able to identify the suspect and victim. The suspect, 42-year-old Chayleang Tiang of Paris, Kentucky, was taken into custody. Tiang was transported to the Steuben County Jail where he will wait for extradition to Michigan.

The 14-year-old was reunited with their guardians.

After further investigation, it was determined that Tiang had driven from Kentucky to Michigan to meet the minor.

Per the release, “the Indiana State Police would like to remind parents and guardians to monitor their children’s on-line activity and that the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force encourages Hoosiers to report online exploitation, solicitation, and enticement-type crimes against children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The NCMEC website can be accessed through the ICAC Task Force website. To report a crime with your child as a victim involving the Internet or other electronic means, please contact your local Indiana law enforcement agency.”

ICAC Taskforce website: https://www.internetcrimesagainstkids.com

This investigation was a team effort, and the Indiana State Police was assisted by Dekalb County Central Communications, Steuben County Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Ashley Police Department in conjunction with the Ionia County (MI) Sheriff’s Department.