2-Year-Old Girl Rescued After Amber Alert in Oakland

OAKLAND, Calif. – A 2-year-old girl, the subject of an Amber Alert, was found safe late Tuesday night. The California Highway Patrol confirmed the child is back with her family.

Alicia Benjamin, the child’s paternal grandmother, told KTVU that Amira Coleman was located in a home on 94th Avenue in East Oakland around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. It remains unclear who resides at that location or the circumstances that led to her return.

Authorities took the child’s parents, Andrew Coleman, 25, and Tamira Claggion, 24, along with the maternal grandmother, Chalita West, into custody. Benjamin mentioned that she had recently received temporary guardianship of Amira due to alleged domestic violence in the family.

According to Benjamin, the incident unfolded when Coleman and Claggion arrived at her home on Tuesday afternoon to collect paperwork. Instead of leaving peacefully, they, along with West, allegedly abducted Amira and assaulted Benjamin. She reported sustaining bruises and cuts during the attack.

“Her mother then rushed in, pushed the gate in, pushed me down in the house, just started hitting me, digging my eyes out,” Benjamin stated. “So I have my grandbaby in the other room locked up because I didn’t want her to see this, plus she’s traumatized already from them fighting every day around her.”

The Amber Alert was issued at approximately 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and was deactivated once Amira was safely located. The California Highway Patrol noted that the child was found and has been returned to safety.

Authorities reported that Coleman, Claggion, and West have a history involving drug possession, domestic violence, and criminal threats. They are facing charges of burglary, battery, and violating a custody order. West also faces additional charges of assault with a firearm.