A 3-year-old girl and her 3-month-old sister have both been found safe days after Griffin police learned an armed man suspected of robbing a restaurant was their father, prompting concerns about their well-being.
In a Facebook post Monday, Griffin police said Violet and Sage Dowell had been located and were OK following a search. The suspect, 51-year-old Curtis Dowell, was also located and arrested on numerous charges, according to Spalding County jail records.
Police on Thursday asked for help locating the children after learning they were with the man who they believed had robbed a restaurant owner at knifepoint.
Investigators said Dowell walked into the back door of Louise’s Cafeteria on East Solomon Street and entered the restaurant manager’s office about 6:15 p.m. on May 5. He then threatened the manager, held her knifepoint and took cash from the office, police said.
Witnesses told police that Dowell was a former employee of the restaurant.
Investigators said the girls’ mother, who is Dowell’s girlfriend, has primary custody of the children. She and the children went with Dowell voluntarily, police said.
“There was concern for the children’s safety if they were in Mr. Dowell’s presence when and if he were confronted by law enforcement regarding the warrants against him,” Griffin police said.
Dowell was taken into custody without incident, authorities said. He faces charges of false imprisonment, armed robbery, robbery, aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, theft by taking, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and interference with calls for emergency assistance.
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