The Columbia Police Department (CPD) investigators have recently made significant progress in a custodial interference investigation involving a 2-year-old girl. Two females, 41-year-old Tiffany Alexander and her daughter 23-year-old Janiyah Williams, have been arrested and charged with Custodial Interference, Burglary–First Degree, and Assault–First Degree.

According to Police Chief W. H. ‘Skip’ Holbrook, the incident took place when Alexander and Williams forced their way into a Hatfield Street home and assaulted two residents before taking the 2-year-old girl from the premises. The victims, who are the child’s grandparents, were caring for her at the time of the incident and had to receive medical treatment for their injuries.

It has been determined that Tiffany Alexander is the biological mother of the child but does not have custody rights.

The Columbia Police Department received an emergency disturbance call involving a weapon at approximately 6:30 last night from the 1800 block of Hatfield Street. Given the seriousness of the situation and the removal of the child, the emergency call was upgraded.

Upon arrival at the scene, officers found the grandparents, who informed them that the suspects had broken into their home and assaulted them with various items, including a baseball bat and pepper spray, in order to take the child.

Despite being assaulted, the victims managed to provide CPD officers with a description of the suspect’s getaway vehicle. This crucial information was immediately relayed to the State Fusion Center and shared with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) agents to prepare for issuing an Amber Alert.

It was determined that the suspects were attempting to flee with the child back to Texas. With the assistance of Columbia-Richland 9-1-1 dispatchers and SLED agents, the exact location of the suspects was identified and communicated to law enforcement in another state. As a result, the suspects were apprehended by the Georgia State Patrol on Interstate 85 in Georgia.

During the traffic stop on I-85, troopers discovered both suspects and the child inside the vehicle. The suspects were subsequently taken into custody and are currently awaiting extradition to Columbia.

Fortunately, the 2-year-old girl was found in good health and had not suffered any physical harm. Following the incident, she was temporarily placed in the care of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services. However, she has since been safely returned to her home in Columba.

All persons arrested or charged in this case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.