STEUBEN CO. – Just before 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 12, an Indiana State Police Trooper found a kidnapping suspect and victim at the rest park on I69 in Steuben County.
Dekalb County Dispatch was informed of a 14-year-old who was picked up in Ionia, Michigan, by an adult male from Kentucky. The Ionia County (MI) Sheriff’s Department notified them of the vehicle description and suspect information. This information was made available to our Trooper who found the matching vehicle at the rest park on I69 south in Steuben County at the 344 mile marker. After investigating, the Trooper was able to identify the suspect and victim. The suspect, Chayleang Tiang (42) of Paris, Kentucky, was found to be with a minor out of Ionia, Michigan. After a more thorough investigation, it was determined that Mr. Tiang had driven from Kentucky to Michigan to meet the juvenile. The Ionia County Sheriff’s Department had a warrant for Mr. Tiang for kidnapping, and he was arrested by the Indiana State Police on that warrant and transported to the Steuben County Jail, where he will wait for extradition to Michigan. The 14-year-old victim was reunited with their guardians.
The Indiana State Police would like to remind parents and guardians to monitor their children’s online activity and that the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force encourages Hoosiers to report online exploitation, solicitation, and enticement-type crimes against children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The NCMEC website can be accessed through the ICAC Task Force website. To report a crime with your child as a victim involving the Internet or other electronic means, please get in touch with your local Indiana law enforcement agency.
ICAC Taskforce website: https://www.internetcrimesagainstkids.com
This investigation was a team effort, and the Indiana State Police was assisted by DeKalb County Central Communications, Steuben County Sheriff’s Department, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, and the Ashley Police Department in conjunction with the Ionia County (MI) Sheriff’s Department.
All suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
