Cory Lay of the Brown County Sheriff’s office was off-duty when he heard scanner traffic indicating Amber Alert suspect Rojelio Hernandez was driving through Hiawatha. He immediately jumped in his own car and tracked Hernandez down.“I heard radio traffic of the incident where the people might be at the Morrill Janes bank,” Lay said. “I went there in my personal vehicle, drove around, looked for the people, I ended up finding the car. I followed them, radioed to the (police department).”
Wednesday night, Brown County law enforcement received reports that Simhiser and Hernandez may have been seen around Hiawatha.
Sheriff John Merchant said the pair may have been staying with members of Hernandez’s family, before possibly leaving the country.
“From what some of the other law enforcement said, they thought maybe they were headed to Texas or Mexico or something,” Merchant said.
People throughout Hiawatha today told 27 News there was speculation the pair may have stayed in a nearby town - either Robinson or Morrill, but law enforcement couldn't confirm that.
Meanwhile, Hernandez has been charged with two misdemeanors: Contributing to a child's misconduct, and driving while license is suspended.
Reporting: Amy Wolf
Photojournalist: Keith Miles. Graphics: Ryan Schuetz
