Traffic stop turns rescue: Nash County deputies find missing teen from Florida during traffic stop

A traffic stop turned into a rescue Tuesday after deputies discovered an abducted 16-year-old in the car.

On Tuesday at 12:04 a.m., deputies conducted a traffic stop on car with Florida license plates going northbound on Interstate 95 near Mile Marker 138. Deputies stopped the driver for a traffic violation.

While asking routine questions, deputies developed reasonable suspicion to search the car.

The driver, Alejandro Hernandez Vazquez, consented to deputies searching his car. During the search of the car, two vape cartridge THC pens were located inside the driver door and center console.

Deputies learned that the passenger, a 16-year-old girl, was reported missing five hours prior by the Coral Springs Police Department in Florida.

The girl was transported to the Wake County Juvenile Detention Center and is awaiting pickup by her family from Florida.

Vazquez was arrested and booked at the Nash County Detention Center, originally with no bond. He was later given a $500,000 secured bond. He was also given a $5,000 secured bond for the other charges related to the narcotics violations.

Vazquez is charged with the following crimes:

• Abduction of child
• Felony possession of synthetic cannabinoid
• Possession of marijuana paraphernalia
• Contributing to the delinquency of a minor

Vazquez lives in Miami, Florida. He was not known to the family, nor did he have permission to transport the girl across state lines.

His first court appearance was scheduled for Thursday.

Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone said the matter is a reminder for parents to be mindful of what their children are consuming - and who they're communicating with - on social media.

"What I urge family members to do today: Monitor your kids' social media," Stone said. "If you are not monitoring what your child is doing on social media or the internet then there is a possibility that people will take advantage of them."

Dr. Heather Williams, a pediatrician with Safe Child NC, said Common Sense Media and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force are good resources.

"The best thing to do is start talking with your teen and familiarize yourself with what is on their phone," Williams said. "There are even apps you can download that go as far as monitoring all of their activity to just alerting you to something on your phone that’s not ok, even doing parental controls."