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Oakland Teen Girl Found Unharmed After Amber Alert

OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- A 15-year-old girl who was possibly kidnapped in East Oakland Thursday morning was found unharmed after an Amber Alert was issued and the vehicle she was traveling in was located, an Oakland police spokeswoman said.

The girl, Ciara Thornton, was allegedly abducted around 10 a.m. from the area of 90th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard, authorities said.

Thornton was believed to be with Richard Ashley, a 57-year-old Oakland man who was driving a blue four-door Hyundai.

Perkins said a preliminary investigation revealed that it appeared Thornton was meeting someone earlier in the day and got into a car.

Perkins said that at some point, the victim allegedly wanted out and was refused. Thornton then contacted someone using a cellphone and told them that she was being held against her will, Perkins said.

Based on Thorton's age, police issued the Amber Alert and were able to locate the Hyundai this evening. Perkins said that, as of 8:30 p.m., a suspect was in custody.

The case remains under investigation.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services may have contributed to this report.)

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