Cleo Smith: Dashcam shows cops catch alleged abductor
New footage has emerged of the moment Terence Darrell Kelly was arrested over the abduction of missing WA girl Cleo Smith.
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New footage has emerged of the moment a man was arrested over the abduction of missing girl Cleo Smith.
Terence Darrell Kelly, 36, was formally charged with forcibly taking a child and a range of other offences related to the abduction of the four-year-old from a remote campsite in Western Australia.
Now, vision shot via a taxi’s dashcam shows the moment WA police intercepted Kelly on Robinson St at 11.24pm on Tuesday, per The West Australian.
“It was like a high speed chase first, there was one car and then police cars,” witness Deane Mitchell told Seven.
“(I thought) something’s going on, that’s not right.”
Another witness said: “The cops were chasing that car initially and they were all surrounding that car”.
Female relatives were said to be inside the car with Kelly when he was arrested and he allegedly told police he “didn’t know what they were talking about when questioned about Cleo”, The West Australian reported. No allegations of wrongdoing are made in respect of Kelly’s relatives.
‘I’M COMING FOR YOU’
After 30 hours of interrogation by police, Kelly appeared barefoot and wearing a black T-shirt in the Carnarvon Magistrates Court, charged over taking the four-year-old.
Mr Kelly, flanked by two police officers, appeared agitated and took a while to acknowledge his name before nodding to indicate he understood the charges.
The Australian reports that Kelly uttered several outbursts during the hearing including: “I’m coming for you”.
He then is said to have asked the magistrate: “What the f**k are the media doing here?“. The magistrate replied, “It’s an open court”.
Cleo was found in a locked room on Wednesday after being missing for 18 days from when she was allegedly snatched from her tent during a family camping trip.
Kelly was arrested from a car about the same time she was rescued by detectives, found in a locked room playing with toys.
The local man had been questioned off and on for two days, and police were forced to suspend questioning when he was taken to hospital.
It is understood he injured himself in his police holding cell and was treated twice for his injuries.
No plea or application for bail was made and he was remanded in custody. The case has been adjourned for four weeks.
Police are still gathering evidence and have appealed to the Carnarvon community for assistance in gathering CCTV and dashcam evidence from the October 15 to November 2.
“Given this matter is now before the court, police are unable to make any further comment on the charges at this stage,” police said.
CLEO’S FIRST DAY WITH FAMILY
Clutching a pink balloon and holding tightly onto her mother, Cleo Smith yesterday spent her first night and day back in the safe arms of her family.
The four-year-old gave the nation a cheeky smile while being carried by her mother Ellie Smith whose side she has barely left since being rescued by police on Wednesday morning.
After 18 days lost from her family, Cleo spent yesterday cuddling mum, stepdad Jake and little sister Isla, venturing briefly outside to play in the backyard of the home where the family has been staying, but making sure her family was always in sight.
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan visited her on Thursday morning bringing gifts of two police teddy bears for her and sister.
He said they were named “Rod” and “Cam” after two of the senior cops who led the investigation – Rod Wilde and Cameron Blaine.
“I‘m not sure those names will stick, Cleo didn’t seem too enamoured of those names,” Mr McGowan said.
He described Cleo’s mood as “bubbly, playing, friendly and sweet”.
“Cleo was a delightful little girl who was playing in the backyard,” Mr McGowan said.
“She was, I thought, very well adjusted, considering.”
Mr McGowan said the family “were very humble. Very well adjusted considering.”
“Fundamentally decent, honest human beings, they were lovely people and it was great to meet them and acknowledge what they have been through,” he said.
“We have a way to go from here, but they are on the right pathway … the family were very appreciative of everything that had been done for them.”
‘WE’VE GOT HER’
It also came as police released the audio of the bodycam footage of the moment officers found her in a bedroom.
A male police officer can be heard saying “We’ve got her. We’ve got her”, before another officer says: “Hey Bubby. come here. come here. “
“I’ve got you bubby,” another officer is heard saying, before a third – later identified as Detective Senior Sergeant Cameron Blaine asks: “What’s your name?
“You’re all right,” another officer can be heard reassuring the little girl.
“What’s your name? What’s your name sweetheart?,” Det Sgt Blaine asks before this sweet little voice replies: “My name is Cleo”
“Your name is Cleo,” Det Sgt Blaine replies.
“Hello Cleo," another officer says.
EXPERT TEAM OF COPS ARRIVE
Exactly what happened to Cleo Smith is not yet clear with police yesterday flying in a specialist team – and confirming this stage of their investigation may “take time”.
The Detective who asked her to say her name on the night she was found at the Tonkin Crescent address, Detective Senior Sergeant Cameron Blaine said simply it will take how ever long it takes,” he said.
The priority he said was allowing Cleo to settle back into the safety, security and love of her family.
WA Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde said the interviewers – who are trained in dealing with vulnerable victims – will only ask questions if Cleo is feeling up to it.
“Her welfare is paramount,” Det Sup Wilde said.
HOW COPS PLOTTED THEIR RAID
Det Sgt Blaine opened up about the plan police had before they raided the alleged suspect’s house in Carnarvon.
“When we left for the day, on a Tuesday I think, as we started to settle in for the night, it was going to happen.
“We had some plans around what could happen, one of them was that the suspect that we were observing would be mobile and would leave the premises so in terms of decisions, it was not harder because we said, we talk about all the different scenarios so what happened was one of the scenarios and it was clear in our minds what had to occur and that’s just how it went down.”
He also confirmed there were four officers involved in the arrest of the suspect, who was in a car at the time.”
There were also four officers who broke into the Carnarvon home where Cleo was being held.
Detective senior constable Kurt Ford was one of them and spoke of the moment he swept her up into his arms.
Police said Cleo was awake, alert with the light on and was playing with toys.
Detective Ford said “I don’t think we had really any expectations going in – we didn’t know what we were going into,” of the moment the 18-day search came to an end.
“If anything our expectations weren’t great,” he said.
“I just saw a little girl sitting there and didn’t think about anything else than picking her up.
“It was an emotional experience going in and it was a good result.”
The members of the task force who tirelessly searched for the four-year-old were honoured by Premier Mark McGowan on Thursday.
They posed for a photograph to mark one of the state’s proudest policing moments.
Senior officers were still coming to terms with the scale of their achievement, and the size of the investigation now in front of them.
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