Missing Palatine Boy Found Safe

An 8-year-old boy who police said was taken by his mother's 30-year-old boyfriend was found safe in Chicago, the Daily Herald reported.

Eriberto Perez was taken from an apartment at 430 W. Palatine Road on Thursday by his mother's boyfriend William Cruz. Police said that Cruz took the child at about 8:30 p.m. to go to a nearby grocery store but did not return.

Although Cruz is not the boy's father, he had permission to take Perez with the understanding he would return shortly, police said.

"Before calling police, Eriberto's mother called Cruz on their cell phone at 9:20 p.m., and Cruz told her that they were going to a relative's house in Chicago," a press release from the Palatine Police department states. "At that time she requested that Cruz bring Eriberto home, however he did not comply. Since then Cruz's cell phone has been turned off."

Police issued the Amber Alert Friday evening t about 5 p.m.

A state trooper stopped Cruz's vehicle in Chicago at about 9:47 p.m. and Perez was found unharmed, the Daily Herald reported. Cruz was taken into custody.

The Tribune reported that Cruz was being held in Cook County Jail on $750,000 bond.