A Staten Island man accused of driving a missing runaway 12-year-old girl from upstate to New York City has been arrested — and police have located his vehicle, cops said Friday.
George Torres, 19, was arrested late Thursday and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, in connection to the disappearance of Malaya M. Johnson, who remains missing, the Washington County Sheriff’s office posted on Twitter.
Torres gave Malaya a ride to the Big Apple at her request, leaving her at the Staten Island Ferry terminal around 11 a.m. Thursday, authorities told The Post-Star of Glens Falls, NY.
Malaya was last seen around noon Thursday near the terminal on the Staten Island side, according to the NYPD.
Torres was “cooperative” and told cops that the pre-teen had asked him for a ride to the city, according to the Post-Star. His car, a newer model red Ford Mustang, was found in Staten Island late Thursday, officials said.
Police believe Malaya ran away from home, used social media to meet Torres and arranged for him to pick her up after school in Hudson Falls on Wednesday, Hudson Falls Police Chief Scott Gillis told the outlet.
He was taken to the Washington County Jail early Friday for lack of bail, according to the report. Police are investigating whether additional charges are warranted.
Torres and another man were being questioned Thursday night, the Washington County Sheriff’s office said. Neither could provide any information on where Malaya was headed, the Post-Star reported.
Anyone with information on the girl’s whereabouts is asked to call the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at (518) 747-4623.