ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – An 11-year-old Apopka girl for whom authorities issued an Amber Alert on Sunday morning has been found, Orange County deputies said.
Deputies said the girl was found in good health around 10:30 a.m. after a citizen flagged deputies down and told them where she was.
Darrell Mills, 50, sexually battered the girl before he took her from her home at 2:15 a.m. and dragged her into an SUV in nearby woods, according to the arrest report.
Deputies said a massive search involving more than 100 personnel from the Sheriff's Office was underway at about 8:45 a.m, just more than one hour after authorities issued the alert, but deputies were unable to find the girl.
Officials said the two were found just before 10:30 a.m. and Mills was taken into custody in the 100 block of 19th Street, not far from where the search was taking place.
The man who found the victim told News 6 that his family saw the girl inside a Jeep, knocking on the window.
"My daughter and my wife, they just coming from working out at the school and they heard someone knocking at the window and they weren't for sure, so they ran down and got me, told me and they believe somebody was up here in the truck," Adrian Davis said.
Davis said he told the deputies because he believed it was the right thing to do and he hopes the young girl will be OK following the incident.
"I just hope she's doing better and I hope she can kind of get over it," Davis said. "I hate that it had to happen for her and I hate that she had to experience that and I just wish her the best her and her family," Davis said.
The Sheriff's Office said after 11:10 a.m. that the alert was canceled and deputies thanked the community for its help in finding the missing girl.
"We are grateful to the citizen who recognized the suspect and victim and flagged down one of our deputies," a spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office said. "Thank you for your assistance."
News 6 was there as Mills was taken into the Sheriff's Office to be interviewed.
Mills refused to comment as he was escorted inside by deputies. He is charged with kidnapping a child under the age of 13, false imprisonment, sexual battery with a deadly weapon and sexual battery on a child under 12.
Mills was ordered no bond and was appointed a public defender Monday during his first appearance before a judge.
"As to count one, there will be no bond. As to count two, there will be no bond and as to count three, there will be no bond," the judge said.
No other details were available. Stay with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates on this developing story.