Two sanitation workers credited with 10-year-old girl's rescue

A family member reported the girl was missing Sunday after she was seen getting into a car with a registered sex offender.

After searching the neighborhood for hours, New Iberia police officials contacted the Louisiana state police, which issued an Amber Alert.

The workers say they were on their morning trash route when they spotted a vehicle matching the one described in the Amber Alert. They blocked the vehicle with the garbage truck and called 911.

"I didn't second guess it," said Dion Merrick. "I said, for the car to be parked in this location, and it matches the description on the Amber Alert, something's not right."

Brandon Antoine said they blocked the driveway so the car couldn't get out.

"When [the police] grabbed the little girl out of the car, I am not exactly sure what she said , but it sounded like she said, 'I thank ya'll,' and from there I just started crying," said Antoine.

"A lot of people nowadays, they see things, but they are so scared thinking about what somebody else is going to think about them," Merrick added. "But you just have to go with your heart and let God take the wheel."

Michael R. Sereal, a 33-year-old sex offender, was taken into custody on a warrant for aggravated kidnapping.