An Amber Alert was issued late Tuesday night for a 5-year-old girl who was last seen being led away Monday afternoon from a park in Bridgeton by an unidentified man, according to Bridgeton Police.

According to Bridgeton Chief of Police Michael Gaimari, the bulletin was issued as a result of interviewing and re-interviewing people who were in the city park near the ball fields on Monday afternoon.

The alert indicates the child, identified as Dulce Maria Alavez, may have been taken by a light skin possibly Hispanic male, height 5’6” to 5’8”, thin, build, no facial hair, acne on his face and wearing orange sneakers, red pants and a black shirt.

The alert says the child was led into a red van with a sliding door on the passenger side and tinted windows.

The chief confirmed the information but would not provide any other details at this time noting the investigation is continuing.

Law enforcement continued the search all day Tuesday beginning with an extensive ground search beginning at 7:00 AM with more than 50 officers from various agencies within the county, city fire department personnel and K9s from through the state.

The chief said water rescue and search team from the fire department and Downe Township assisted in the search along with the New Jersey State Police Aviation and Missing Persons units and the FBI Child Abduction Rapid Deployment unit. He said the raceway waterway was eventually drained by city workers later in the afternoon to assist in the search but the search proved negative for locating the child.

Gaimari said officers and detectives have been conducting simultaneous investigations since the child was reported missing with officers focused on locating the child and conducting a criminal investigation into her disappearance. He stated NJ Search and Rescue personnel will remain in the city park through the night and into Wednesday morning.

At approximately 4:50 PM Monday, officers responded to the City Park ball-fields and playground area on the report of a missing 5-year-old child.

Officers were advised by the child’s mother that the child was playing on swings with her younger 3-year-old brother approximately 30 yards away while she remained in her vehicle with an 8-year-old relative.

The mother reported that she observed the 3-year-old returning to her vehicle without the missing child and was unable to locate her daughter.

The child is described as a Hispanic female. Approximately 3’5” medium build and was last seen wearing a yellow shirt, black and black and white checkered long pants with a flower design and white sandals. She had her dark-colored hair in a ponytail.

Anyone with information is urged to call the police department at 856-451-0033 or utilizing the department’s TIP411 text to relay information anonymously, subtext “Bridgeton.”

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