Father of missing 2-year-old Georgia boy arrested; toddler remains missing

DECATUR, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The father of a 2-year-old boy who has been missing since late Wednesday night has been arrested.

The DeKalb County Police Department initially said the toddler was kidnapped in DeKalb County. Then on Thursday night, they confirmed to Atlanta News First that a preliminary investigation revealed a kidnapping did not occur.

“The investigation is fluid and evolving,” police said.

J’Asiah Mitchell was last seen around 11:23 p.m. on Wednesday at Aspen Woods Apartments in Decatur. He was wearing Buzz Lightyear pajamas and was believed to be traveling in a black sedan, according to police.

Mitchell’s aunt told Atlanta News First he was taken from his dad’s apartment.

Now the boy’s father, identified as 23-year-old Artavious North, has been arrested for false statements and false report of a crime.

DeKalb police say there was no armed robbery nor kidnapping near the Aspen Woods Apartments, as originally reported by North.

The investigation has now extended to East Point in Fulton County. Officers were on scene at the Elite at Lakeview apartments Thursday night, focusing their search on one particular apartment.

People who identified themselves as J’Asiah’s family told us the police presence was related to the search for J’Asiah.

DeKalb County investigators said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was contacted, which advised Mitchell’s disappearance did not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert. The East Point Police Department is now leading the search to find J’Asiah.

READ: What warrants an AMBER Alert? 1,140 children recovered through the program

“Our priority is locating J’Asiah safely while we continue to investigate the matter,” investigators said in a statement.

Police ask anyone who has seen Mitchell to call 911 or the East Point Police Department.

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