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RIVERTON — A teen who allegedly drove away with her 7-year-old sister — prompting an Amber Alert on Sunday — has been booked into juvenile detention, police said.
The 14-year-old girl was taken into custody for investigation of kidnapping and automobile theft, Riverton Police Chief Don Hutson said Monday.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office will review the allegations and decide whether or not to pursue criminal charges, he said.
The younger sister is "in good health" and has been returned home to family, according to the chief.
Authorities issued the Amber Alert after police say the teenager drove away with her sister from their grandparents' home in Riverton. The grandparents called police after noticing the car and the girls were missing, police said. At the time, police believed the teen could be taking her sister to Idaho where her biological father lives.
The girl had a history of stealing cars, and she had been upset about how the grandparents were treating her sister, according to Hutson.
Police issued the alert around 7:30 p.m. Sunday "because the 14-year-old has no ability to care for her and a 7-year-old little girl — no means, no money — and frankly we weren't sure how good of a driver she is even though she has stolen cars before," Hutson has said.
The teenager lives at a residential treatment program during the week and stays with her grandparents on weekends, the chief said.
The car was found at Liberty Park unoccupied, and Salt Lake police later located the two girls.
