Edgefield County officers rescued a 9-year-old girl who was kidnapped on Sunday morning.
Deputies, actively patrolling Highway 25, spotted the stolen vehicle involved in the kidnapping of the child and successfully apprehended the suspect after a brief pursuit, Sheriff Jody Rowland said.
The incident unfolded following the activation of a statewide Amber Alert early Sunday. Zackery Steven Cosgrove, 28, was wanted in connection with the abduction of a child from Oconee County. Cosgrove allegedly stole a black 2019 Nissan Rogue with the girl inside, triggering a multi-agency manhunt.
As Edgefield County deputies patrolled Highway 25 north of the town, they spotted the stolen vehicle traveling southbound. Deputies initiated a traffic stop with lights and sirens, prompting a short pursuit, the sheriff said. Cosgrove ultimately pulled over at the intersection of Highway 25 and Jake Bryan Road, where deputies executed a felony car stop procedure.
The child was safely rescued from the vehicle, unharmed, and was immediately secured. Cosgrove was taken into custody and the stolen vehicle was recovered.
“As we see in this case and so many others, crime does not respect boundaries,” Sheriff Rowland said in a Facebook post. “Our deputies were prepared to react, protect and defend against the criminal element in our communities.”
Cosgrove was later turned over to Oconee County deputies and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for further processing. He was denied bond during his first court appearance and is awaiting a hearing before a General Sessions judge.
Sheriff Rowland commended his deputies for their flawless execution of the operation, which ended with the safe recovery of the child and the arrest of the suspect.
The investigation is ongoing as Cosgrove faces multiple charges related to the abduction and theft.