Father at center of Amber Alert given $25,000 secured bond Tuesday after surrendering to police

The father who was at the center of an Amber Alert Monday made his first court appearance Tuesday morning, one day after he surrendered to police -- after calling WRAL News.

Mitchell Grayson, the father of a 4-year-old girl, subject of an Amber Alert, called WRAL News when he was en route to surrender to police.

WRAL's Lena Tillett spent more than an hour on the phone with Grayson as he drove his daughter Paisley to the Durham Police Department headquarters. When they arrived, about five hours after the Amber Alert was issued, Paisley was safe and healthy.

In court, his lawyer said Grayson works in construction and has three kids who live with him. His lawyer asked the judge to consider an unsecured bond.

"While Mr. Grayson has many pending allegations, he has a fairly minor criminal history," his lawyer said Tuesday in court.

Grayson's mother also spoke in court.

"He lives with me," she said. "He's a good kid [and] hasn't been in any trouble recently. He's been going to his court dates. He's working hard, and I know he's not going to flee jurisdiction. I promise that he'll come home, and he'll stay with me."

The judge gave Grayson a $25,000 secured bond. His family said there's no way they can afford to bail him out. 

"You can't kidnap your own kid," Grayson told WRAL News Monday night. "It looks bad, but I'm just doing what I can."

Durham police issued an Amber Alert for Paisley Monday afternoon, alleging that her father broke into a home on the 800 block of Angier Avenue in Durham on Saturday and severely beat a family member of the child before leaving with her.

He said he took the child because he was worried for her safety.

"They had her locked in an apartment for like three days," he said.

Grayson was charged with aggravated assault, breaking and entering and injury to personal property.

He didn't deny that an altercation took place. Grayson said he was given access to the building by Paisley's 75-year-old grandmother. He said a cousin of Paisley's mother attempted to get him to leave and put his hands on him. Grayson said he responded and ended up punching that family member, an action he regrets.

He said he decided to surrender to police after seeing that an Amber Alert had been issued.

"I called investigators, and they told me to come turn myself in if I ever wanted a chance to see my kid again," he said.

During his phone call, Grayson could be heard telling Paisley he had to drop her off at the police station and that she would be reunited with her mother, at which point she started crying.

"I don't have any other options," Grayson told Tillett on the phone.

Grayson talked to Tillett and to Paisley during the course of his drive. He said he had taken the child "home" to the mountains, near Wilkesboro, where they tie-dyed some shirts and played in the park over the weekend.

When Tillett said, "I think a lot of people are worried about Paisley, and they just want to make sure she's okay," Grayson responded, "That's why I went and got her, because I was worried about her."

The child was audible on the call, and Grayson texted WRAL News photos of her in the back seat, watching videos on her tablet.

WRAL News immediately contacted Durham police when Grayson reached out. Police confirmed that Grayson had been in contact with them prior to his call to WRAL News.

Authorities said Grayson took the child in a gray 2000 Chevrolet Astro van with NC plate HFS-7433. The pair arrived in Durham in a different vehicle, a white hatchback.

Grayson was transported to the Durham County jail after investigators interviewed him. He continued to speak with WRAL News from his jail cell.

Tillett asked him if he regretted taking Paisley from her home.

"That's not really her home," Grayson said. "Her home is with me. She got taken from me."

His first court appearance was Tuesday. His next court appearance will be a probable cause hearing on Oct. 31.

Police are asking anyone with additional information on the case to contact Investigator T.S. Stuart at 919-560-4440 ext. 29340.