Police find missing child with his father

Monday, May 24, 2004 | 9:42 a.m.

A 2-year-old Las Vegas child who was reported missing by his mother Saturday morning was found early today being pushed in a stroller by his father in front of the Stratosphere, Metro Police said.

The father, Ian Held, 28, was arrested on seven outstanding traffic warrants and charges of possession of narcotics paraphernalia, child endangerment and child abuse. There were no abduction charges filed, police said.

Metro Missing Persons Lt. Brad Simpson said Held is the boy's biological father and the circumstances surrounding the child being taken by the man did amount to abduction. He said police determined that endangerment and abuse were the appropriate charges based on the findings of their investigation.

The Helds were found at 1:10 a.m. by a Metro patrol officer who recognized the boy from photographs broadcast on television when the child was reported missing, Simpson said.

The boy, Aiden Held, was taken to University Medical Center, cleaned up and checked by doctors to make sure he was healthy, Simpson said, noting that the child then was turned over to Child Protective Services, not the mother.

"We wanted CPS to be involved because the father and mother had been living together at the time the child was reported missing," Simpson said. "We just wanted to make sure the child will be returned to a safe environment.

"If everything is OK, the mom likely will be called by CPS to pick up the child today."

Attempts to reach Child Protective Services officials early this morning were not successful.

The child had last been seen early Saturday morning leaving the family's residence at 6300 W. Tropicana Ave. with his father, police said.

The dad and the boy had left the child's mother, Melissa Wilton, at a bus stop on Flamingo Road and Jones Boulevard, police said.

The mother told police Held might be panhandling in downtown Las Vegas.

No Amber Alert was issued because there was no indication of foul play, police said.

Sun reporter Mary Manning contributed to this story.