$50K reward announced in Boyle Heights Amber Alert

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles City Council and police announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of a 2-year-old boy and the arrest of his father.

The Amber Alert was issued after authorities say Abraham Vargas kidnapped his son on May 23 in Boyle Heights in the 1000 block of Lorena Street. The mother, Beatriz Perez, was putting Edwin in his car seat when the suspect pushed her away and took off in her orange Nissan Quest.

"As Beatriz was loading her children into her vehicle in front of her residence ... she was pushed out of the way, and Abraham took the vehicle with the child inside," said LAPD Capt. Martin Baeza.

The vehicle was found later that day abandoned in East L.A.

Police say there have been two reported sightings of Vargas in Boyle Heights. Witnesses said Vargas was sporting a new goatee, had a shaved head, and was riding a black "BMX-style" bicycle. There have been no reported sightings of the boy.

Police said there was a restraining order against the father, and he was not allowed to have the boy. He reportedly told family members that he wants to take the boy to Mexico. Along with the kidnapping, police say Vargas was also wanted for unlawful sex with a minor. The LAPD did not elaborate.

Anyone with information is urged to call the LAPD Hollenbeck Station at (323) 342-8906.

City News Service contributed to this report.