Tip leads to Youngstown cops finding boy

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A 5-year-old boy was found after a brief Amber Alert was issued for him Tuesday.

Youngstown officers located the boy after a tip Tuesday afternoon.

A caller told police a tan 2001 Pontiac Bonneville belonging to Marvin Backmon, 48, of 448 St. Louis St., was in the driveway of 330 W. Earl St. The boy had last been seen with Backmon.

His name and car were identified in an Amber Alert sent out by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Police found the boy in good health just before 3 p.m. Tuesday with a male at the Earl Street residence, but Backmon was not found.

Police are still searching for Backmon and looking at potential charges, said Youngstown police Capt. Rod Foley.

Foley said Tuesday afternoon shortly after the boy was found that he wasn’t sure if the case met the criteria for an Amber Alert, which are issued when a child goes missing.

He said Youngstown detectives were worried about Backmon taking the boy to South Carolina, where he is originally from.

According to a police report, Youngstown officers were called to the home of Carla T. Higgins, 47, 448 St. Louis St. She is the child’s grandmother and Blackmon’s girlfriend.

The boy was dropped off at Higgins’ home by his mother, Ashley McGee, 28, of Browning Avenue, at about 2 p.m. Monday.

Higgins told police Backmon took the child to Bottom Dollar, 2649 Glenwood Ave., about 7 p.m. Monday. When he had not returned by 10 p.m., Higgins called McGee.

They tried calling Backmon’s cellphone, but it had been left at Higgins’ home.

McGee contacted police after Higgins called her at about 10:55 a.m. Tuesday, saying the boy had not returned home yet.