Illinois man arrested in Ames with missing girl

AMES, Iowa (AP) -

A man suspected of abducting a 13-year-old Illinois girl has been arrested in Iowa.

Ames police say Eric Smith, of Rock Falls, Ill., was taken into custody Thursday in the parking lot of a Hy-Vee food store in Ames, according to WQAD-TV in Moline, Ill. The girl, Joy Haahr, also of Rock Falls, was found with Smith.

Authorities say they located the pair by tracking cell phone signals on Smith's phone.

Rock Falls police were contacted Monday after Haahr didn't return from school. The girl's mother, Mary Haahr, told WQAD that she dated Smith.

Police say Smith and the girl were found in a car reported stolen from Dubuque.

Smith is being held in the Story County Jail on a second-degree theft charge and an Illinois burglary warrant.

Jail officials say Smith's bond was set at $10,000. They didn't know if he had an attorney.

-- Associated Press