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Mesa girl abducted by non-custodial father safely found, police say

Esau Tineo reportedly does not have any custodial rights to the child, the Mesa Police Department said.

MESA, Ariz. — A 2-year-old Mesa girl rescued by U.S. Marshals Friday afternoon after she was abducted by her own father, according to authorities.

Esau Tineo, 39, is accused of forcibly taking his daughter Ezmeralda who he does not have custody over. Police say Tineo has a long criminal history that includes burglary and armed robbery.

His family told police that Tineo had been acting erratically lately and was armed. Mesa police say he vowed to shoot at officers if he could not see his daughter.

Authorities tracked Tineo to a home near 59th Avenue and Thomas where he was spotted with Ezmeralda, but police say Tineo escaped in a car after narrowly dodging officers and oncoming traffic.

The pursuit ended in the police shooting near 19th Avenue and Southern, according to Marshals. Police say Ezmeralda was rescued unharmed and returned to her family.

Marshals did not explain if Tineo was injured in the shooting. 

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