Cashier speaks out after AMBER Alert suspect spotted at Huber Heights gas station

By WHIO Staff

The Columbus Police Department has released new photos of a Columbus AMBER Alert suspect at a gas station in Huber Heights.

Police said Nalah Jackson, was spotted at a gas station in the car she allegedly stole in Columbus.

News Center 7′s Haley Kosik spoke with a cashier at the United Dairy Farmers off of Brandt Pike who said Jackson showed up there Monday night.

The cashier, Emily Ryan, said Jackson showed up right before closing.

Surveillance photos show Jackson walking up to the checkout.

Ryan said Jackson asked for $5 for gas and was behaving strangely.

Ryan said she gave Jackson money and then Jackson went into the bathroom for around 20 minutes before leaving out the emergency exit.

After the cashier got the AMBER Alert on her phone, she made the connection.

“I was really shocked, I’m kicking myself for not doing something,” Ryan said.

The cashier is the one who called the police, telling them they saw Jackson.

Jackson is described as being 5-feet 7-inches tall, 130 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a dark-colored hoodie.

Police are continuing to search for Kason Thomas, one of the twins who was reported missing Monday night. His brother Ky’air was found safe at the Dayton International Airport early Tuesday morning.

‘There was a lapse of communication;’ Columbus Police provide new details to AMBER Alert case

By WHIO Staff

COLUMBUS — Columbus police provided new details during a press conference Tuesday on the Amber Alert issued for two 5-month-olds.

“There was a lapse of communication from an executive level. That is being addressed internally and that is something we’re going to make sure doesn’t occur again,” Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant said.

Police are continuing to search for Kason Thomas, one of the twins who was reported missing Monday night. His brother Ky’air was found safe at the Dayton International Airport early Tuesday morning.

“We’re following every lead and tracking down every moment from the time these babies went missing,” said Bryant.

Officers got a call at 9:45 p.m. Monday at the Donatos Pizza on North High Street in Columbus on the report of a stolen vehicle with twin five-month-olds in the car, Bryant said. The mom was at the restaurant to pick-up food for a DoorDash order.

Bryant said that the suspect, 24-year-old Nalah Jackson, was a homeless woman inside the store identified by Donato’s employees. Jackson left when the mother walked inside and before officers got to the scene.

According to Bryant, officers arrived within minutes and was on the scene at 9:52 p.m.

At 4:15 a.m., Columbus police were notified that a child had been abandoned at the Dayton International Airport, who has been identified as Ky’air.

Bryant says police faced delays in getting an Amber Alert issued for Ky’air and Kason.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., other law enforcement agencies, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol, were notified by CPD about the abduction.

Columbus police then requested an Amber Alert at 11:45 p.m. and again at 12:05 p.m.

The Amber Alert finally went out at 1:37 a.m. One obstacle police had to overcome was the vehicle not having a license plate and it being newly purchased.

“There was a lapse of communication from an executive level. That is being addressed internally and that is something we’re going to make sure doesn’t occur again,” Bryant said.