A routine stop at a Phoenix QuikTrip turned into a life-saving intervention when a moving crew recognized a toddler featured in an Amber Alert and acted quickly to help authorities recover her safely.
On Feb. 21, an Amber Alert was issued for 2-year-old Kehlani Rogers, who vanished from her Avondale home. Police said the child had been taken by 23-year-old Marina Noriega, a transient who had been allowed to stay overnight by the family.
The following morning, a QuikTrip security guard spotted Noriega and Kehlani near 27th Avenue and Thomas Road.
Realizing the child matched the Amber Alert description, the guard called police and sought help from nearby employees of Camelback Moving Inc., who were at the store preparing for the day.
Foremen Kevin Place and Ralph Vollmert immediately recognized the toddler.
“Oh my God, that’s her,” Place recalled. “I knew we had to do something. I can’t just ignore it.”
The team quickly coordinated a plan to block Noriega’s vehicle with their trucks, preventing her escape until police arrived.
They recorded the license plate and activated dashcams to document the intervention, providing critical evidence, according to FOX 10.
Phoenix police arrived within minutes. Noriega did not resist, and Kehlani was unharmed and safely reunited with her parents.
Chad Olsen, president of Camelback Moving, praised the crew’s actions.
“We’re not professional heroes, but their courage and quick thinking exemplify what it means to care for our community,” he said.
The company has recently begun human-trafficking awareness training through Truckers Against Trafficking, equipping employees to respond effectively in high-risk situations.
Authorities revealed Noriega had been using methamphetamine while in the child’s care, and she and Kehlani had slept outdoors during the abduction.
Noriega faces a third-degree felony custodial interference charge, with bond set at $250,000.
Police noted she has prior arrests for robbery, theft, hit-and-run, battery, threats, and drug offenses, ABC 15 reported.
The incident underscores the importance of community vigilance in protecting children. Vollmert and Place urged citizens to pay attention to Amber Alerts and report any sightings immediately.
“This proves the system works when people are alert,” they said, according to AZ Family.
QuikTrip also recognized its security guard’s vigilance, highlighting the value of collaboration between private citizens and law enforcement.
Avondale Police echoed these sentiments, thanking the crew, the store, media partners, and law enforcement at all levels for their coordinated response.
This rescue demonstrates how ordinary citizens can make extraordinary impacts.
Quick thinking, teamwork, and attention to local alerts can mean the difference between danger and safety.
By responding promptly and decisively, the Camelback Moving crew not only helped recover Kehlani but also set an example of community responsibility and civic engagement.
The case is a reminder that, while law enforcement leads the effort, alert citizens remain a critical line of defense for children at risk.
Programs like Truckers Against Trafficking, combined with public awareness campaigns such as Amber Alerts, create a network of vigilance that empowers communities to act when every second counts.
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