HARRISBURG, Pa. — Update, 10/28: According to Harrisburg Director of Communications Matt Maisel, Kenneth Smiley was taken into custody Friday afternoon without incident.
According to court documents, he has been denied bail.
Previously: Police are searching for a man accused of abducting two children in Harrisburg on Thursday morning, forcing an Amber alert to be issued.
Kenneth Smiley, 39, is wanted for attempted homicide, burglary, kidnapping, strangulation, and terroristic threats, and other related charges. Authorities also say he is an absconder from Pa. State Parole.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim found Smiley sitting on her bed and smoking a cigarette around 3:30 a.m on Oct 27. Smiley told the victim he had entered through an unlocked window.
The victim told police that Smiley appeared to be high on drugs and went to the 4-and-5-year-old children's bedroom while brandishing a knife.
Then, Smiley allegedly began to strangle one of the children, putting their face into a pillow while trying to suffocate them, according to the court documents.
Then, the victim said Smiley forced them into her vehicle while telling them, "you're all gonna die tonight."
Police confirmed Smiley is the father of one of the children.
While driving near 20th and Holly Streets, the victim fell out of the vehicle while Smiley and the children remained inside, according to the affidavit.
A witness had seen the victim fall out of the vehicle and helped her call 911.
Around 4:45 a.m., police say they responded to the area of 20th and Holly Streets in Harrisburg for a report of a kidnapping.
An AMBER alert was issued just before 8:00 a.m.
Police say around 8:15 a.m., authorities spotted the vehicle parked in the 200 block of South 19th Street with the two children inside. They were unharmed, but taken to a hospital as a precaution, officials said.
The AMBER alert was canceled shortly after.
Neighbors who got the alert call it a scary situation.
“When you heard the alarms, and you have kids, grandchildren, or you’re afraid to lose your children and [you think about] what can happen to them, what are they going to do to them," said neighbor Roberto Martinez.
“When I came outside, the cops were everywhere, you couldn’t go down the street at all," said another neighbor, Ronald Parsons.
“We live in a crazy world but I’m glad that the AMBER alert, that’s really good because that woke me up, you know, I looked at it, I’m just glad they solved it so quick," Parsons added.
According to court documents, the victim said she had had a verbal altercation with Smiley a few weeks ago, and said that he gets paranoid when he is abusing drugs. During that argument, the victim told police that Smiley struck her in the face and left her with a swollen eye.
“We have his car so unless he has another car, he’s on foot somewhere," said Harrisburg Police Captain Terry Weland. "I don’t know, I’d be speculating."
Police describe Smiley as standing 5'5" tall and weighing 180 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. It is unknown what he was wearing at the time of the abduction.
Officials say anyone who comes into contact with Smiley should call 911.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Edwin Powell of the Harrisburg Police at 717-255-3182.
This is a developing story. FOX43 will provide updates as they become available.