PASCO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – Authorities have canceled the Amber Alert for a 9-year-old Holiday boy after the child was found safe on Monday.
An Amber Alert was issued for Michael Morris after his mother was found badly beaten in the 4000 block of Sail Drive. Sheriff Chris Nocco said she may have suffered a brain injury and was taken to the hospital.
The mother told deputies the child was with 50-year-old Haralampos Savopoulos, who goes by Harry.
She said Savopoulos threw her out of a car after they got into an argument. He allegedly threatened the boy, telling his mother the child would pay for something she did. Then he drove off, Nocco said.
Shortly after 10 a.m. Monday, the sheriff’s office said the child was located and is safe and that Savopoulos was in custody.
The boy and suspect were found at a home on Corona Drive in Holiday. It is unclear why the man took the boy to the home. Neighbors shot cell phone video and took photos of the scene.
Deputies surrounded the home with guns and brought in an armored vehicle.
“I was heading to the corner store and I was coming down the road and I seen an officer with the kid or running out of the house and he ran to the car with him,” said Damion McHenry, who lives in the neighborhood.
Another neighbor captured the moment two deputies walked Savopoulos to a patrol car. Just before his arrest, a deputy on a loud speaker pleaded for him to leave the home safely.
“Keep your hands up Harry, keep your hands up!” he said.
Online jail records show Savopoulos has previous arrests on charges including stalking, battery on a person 65+, resisting arrest, false imprisonment, and drug possession.
“To our citizens out there, thank you for the numerous tips you provided. Greatly appreciated,” the sheriff said on Facebook just after the safe ending.
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