SAN ANTONIO – A man accused of abducting a 3-year-old girl in Austin was arrested in San Antonio on Thursday, according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
BCSO Javier Salazar said Brian Byrne, a non-custodial parent of the child, was tracked down to a gas station in the 12000 block of Potranco Road in far West Bexar County at the intersection with Talley Road.
He was taken into custody without incident and the girl, McKenzie Byrne, was found safe before noon, Salazar said.
Chasity Ramos, a cashier at the station’s convenience store, said Byrne and his daughter were in a restaurant in the same building. She says several SWAT members came through her store first.
Ramos said she heard shouting and when she went to see what was happening, law enforcement was arresting Byrne.
“He was shouting at them because they had the tasers up. He was like, ‘Go ahead. Tase me! Tase me!’ But they didn’t do no such thing. They just -- they handcuffed him, and that was it,” Ramos said.
An AMBER Alert for her disappearance was issued early Thursday after the man allegedly abducted the girl around 12:30 a.m. in Austin. He fled in a silver 2012 Toyota Tundra.
Salazar said the man had “a pretty violent episode” and assaulted a family member in Austin before driving to Bexar County.
“Hopefully, the little girl didn’t see too much of that,” Salazar said, adding that it is unclear why he fled to this area.
The girl is in the process of being reunited with her family.
There was no indication she was under direct threat from the suspect, Salazar added.
Byrne is facing charges of kidnapping and a family violence charge for assault by impeding breath or circulation. As of late Thursday, court records show he’s also facing charges of injury to elderly and possession of a controlled substance.
As BCSO officers transported him to jail, the suspect cursed at media members and claimed his innocence. The suspect was also caught on camera trying to kick KSAT journalists.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.