By Ed Fletcher
efletcher@sacbee.com
Breaking news: The three missing children have been found safely in El Dorado County, California Highway Patrol officials confirmed Monday evening. The vehicle was spotted Monday evening on Forney Road in El Dorado County by a sheriff's officer.
He was taken into custody "without a fight," said Tod Sockman, a spokesman for the West Sacramento Police Department.
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Local authorities are asking for the public's help in finding a man they suspect battered his wife, tossed his 1-year-old son across a bedroom and then abducted the three older children.
Responding to a call about domestic violence, the West Sacramento police arrived to a home on the 600 block of Cummins at around 7 p.m. Saturday.
Before the police arrived, Dmitriy V. Gerasimov, 30, was gone, said Lt. Tod Sockman, a spokesman for the department.
Within minutes, he allegedly forcibly abducted his 2-, 4-, and 7-year-old children from a grandparent's residence and the children have not been seen since, Sockman said.
"Through the course of the weekend we have been looking for this guy," Sockman said. He said the family has been cooperative.
Sockman said police were moved to issue the amber alert Monday after Gerasimov called and told his wife he had access to a plane and that she may never see her kids again.
"Our biggest concern is the safety of the children," Sockman said. "We hope he does the right thing and returns them to their mother."
Gerasimov may be driving a black 1993 Mercedes 300 SE license plate 6THU701, according to the alert.
The missing children are Vitaliy Gerasimov, 7; Alisa Gerasimov, 4; and Valeriy Gerasimov, 2, the CHP said.
Vitaliy is described as a white male, 4 feet 5 inches tall, 130 lbs, with brown hair and hazel eyes.
Alisa is 3 feet 3 inches tall approximately 55 lbs with brown hair and brown eyes.
Valeriy is 3 feet tall, 30 lbs with brown hair and brown eyes.
Gerasimov is 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighting 146 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Sockman said the amber alert has generated plenty of new leads to chase down.
Photo: From left: Alisa (4 years old); Vitaliy (7 years old) and Valeriy (2 years old) -- grandfather in the middle is not involved; Valeriy (2 years old)
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