Latricia Hartley, an African American mother from San Francisco, was arrested while desperately searching for her 14-year-old daughter, who had gone missing.
The incident has sparked controversy and raised questions about the response of local law enforcement.
Hartley, after pleading with authorities to issue alerts for her daughter, was ignored despite alerting them about her daughter’s mental illness and the potential danger she faced.
According to the San Francisco Standard, Hartley informed the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) that her daughter might have been lured away by a 16-year-old boy.
Despite these concerns, the SFPD declined to launch a formal search, categorizing Hartley’s daughter as a runaway. The police stated that the situation did not meet the criteria for issuing an Amber Alert, even though Hartley’s daughter had special needs.
Hartley also requested an Ebony Alert, designed to find missing Black women and girls aged 12-25 who are in physical or mental danger.
However, this request was ignored due to jurisdiction concerns, and the police did not contact neighboring jurisdictions either.
With no assistance from the police, Hartley organized a community search effort, sharing missing person posters on social media and contacting local hospitals.
On April 6, she received an anonymous tip suggesting her daughter might be at the boy’s home in Castro Valley. She informed the police, who searched the house but found nothing.
Convinced that her daughter was there, Hartley conducted her own search. Upon arriving at the boy’s house, the boy called 911, claiming that Hartley and her group were trying to break in. The police arrested Hartley on suspicion of child abuse and felony burglary.
Later that day, Hartley’s daughter was found hiding under a bed in the house and was safely returned home. Hartley now faces reduced charges of misdemeanor trespassing.
While relieved that her daughter is safe, Hartley expressed frustration with the law enforcement response.
“I know my daughter, and I told them I knew she was at risk. That should have been enough,” she said. “Instead, it’s like, my daughter’s life was in danger, and y’all didn’t care.”
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of missing persons cases, particularly those involving Black women and girls, and the effectiveness of law enforcement protocols in handling such situations.
