Georgia father charged with false kidnapping report: Jâasiah Mitchell, 2, is still missing

A 2-year-old remains missing after his father is accused of falsely reporting him as kidnapped, police in Georgia say.

Authorities issued a missing person alert for J’Asiah Mitchell early Thursday, Aug. 17, after the toddler was reportedly snatched during an armed robbery in DeKalb County the night before, police told WSB-TV.

J’Asiah’s father, Artavious North, 23, claimed the kidnapping occurred as he was stopped at a stop sign, the station reported, citing police.

The toddler was allegedly taken at about 11:23 p.m. on Aug. 16 and was last seen wearing Buzz Lightyear pajamas, DeKalb County police said in a news release.

Investigators said they noticed “inconsistencies” in the kidnapping claims, however, and determined there was “no kidnapping nor armed robbery in DeKalb County.”

By late Thursday, J’Asiah’s father was arrested and charged with false statements and false report of a crime, according to police.

The search for the missing toddler continued at an apartment complex in East Point, about 20 miles from the Aspen Woods Apartments in DeKalb County where the boy was last seen, WXIA reported. Authorities didn’t say what led them to East Point.

J’Asiah’s mother, Asia Mitchell, described her son to the outlet as a “very sweet baby” and is pleading for his safe return.

“Just try your best to bring my baby back home safe and just pray that he’s OK,” she told the station.

The East Point Police Department is now handling the investigation, DeKalb County authorities said. McClatchy News reached out to police for an update on Aug. 18 and was awaiting a response.

East Point is about 10 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta.