Madison police have arrested a 37-year-old Madison man for kidnapping, auto theft, neglect of a dependent and drug charges related to a 3-year-old child that had been left in his care in the Walmart parking lot Wednesday morning.
Adam Denning, 37, Madison, is charged with driving away from the Walmart parking lot with the boy in a car owned by the boy’s mother while she went inside to shop. The incident was reported at about 6:52 a.m. when the mother returned to the parking lot and noticed the car and her son missing.
Police obtained a description of the car and the investigating officer, MPD Lt. Dan Slygh, located the vehicle in the 900 block of Gerry Lane. The missing 3-year-old was found abandoned and unharmed in the vehicle and transported to the King’s Daughters’ Hospital Emergency Room for evaluation.
MPD Patrolman James Lee was searching for Denning in the area of Walnut Street and Gerry Lane when he located Denning walking in the 400 block of Walnut Street at about 8:17 a.m. Officers converged on the area and took Denning into custody without incident.
Denning was transported to the Jefferson County Jail where he is being held on preliminary charges of kidnapping, a Level 5 felony and auto theft and neglect of a dependent, both Level 6 felonies.
He is also facing charges of dealing and conspiracy to deal methamphetamine, both Level 2 felonies, and possession of methamphetamine, a Level 4 felony from a separate investigation led by the Indiana State Police.
Madison police were assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and the Department of Child Services. The investigation is ongoing and Slygh and MPD Detectives Ricky Harris and Kyle Cutshaw.