MISSISSIPPI — Two individuals wanted in Maryland on kidnapping charges were arrested over the weekend in Columbia, according to the Columbia Police Department.
Officers initially stopped a vehicle for speeding on Saturday, April 11. During the stop, authorities discovered that the driver, identified as Celso Galvez Morales, was wanted in Maryland on kidnapping charges. He was taken into custody without incident.
A 4-month-old child who was with Morales at the time of the stop was safely turned over to the Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services.
Further investigation revealed that Morales’ girlfriend, Laura Ignacio Martinez, was also wanted in Maryland on kidnapping charges. She was arrested the following day, Sunday, April 12.
Both Morales and Martinez are being held at the Marion County Correctional Facility pending extradition to Maryland.
In a statement, Columbia Police Chief Adrien Fortenberry praised the officers involved, noting that the arrests highlight the importance of proactive policing and attention to detail.
The investigation remains ongoing.
