On March 11, around 4:30 p.m., Aberdeen officers and investigators received a report of a child abduction that occurred at Wendy’s in Aberdeen, announced the Aberdeen Police Department in a press release.
The reporting person advised he witnessed an adult male grab a young female child by the arm and put her in his vehicle, which he advised had dark plastic covering all the windows so you could not see inside it. The reporting person provided a description of the two, along with a description of the vehicle and a New Mexico license plate.
Aberdeen officers and investigators began searching the area and utilizing law enforcement resources to gain information on the vehicle and driver. After a short period of time, investigators located the vehicle nearby and made contact with the man and explained the situation to him.
The man allegedly refused to provide his name or information to law enforcement. The young female child was non-verbal and could not tell law enforcement who the man was. The man allegedly continued to remain uncooperative and resistant. The man was detained while officers and investigators attempted to determine who he was, and locate the child’s guardian. While trying to identify the man, officers located a shotgun, concealed within his vehicle.
After some time, investigators were able to make contact with the child’s mother, who confirmed the man was the child’s father and he was identified as Erick Bonilla, 24 years of age. She further confirmed her daughter was 3 years old and was not able to speak, but that Bonilla had permission to have her that day. The child’s mother responded to the scene and took custody of her daughter.
Bonilla was arrested on charges of resisting a public officer and carrying a concealed weapon. He was taken before a Moore County magistrate, where he was given a $10,000 secured bond.
Photo: Erick Bonilla is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Photo via Aberdeen Police Department.
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Article is a press release from the Aberdeen Police Department.
