A man broke into a Nikolaevsk residence and kidnapped an 18-month-old baby girl Thursday night, according to Alaska State Troopers.
Troopers arrested Venedim Martushev, 38 of Nikolaevsk, on charges of burglary and kidnapping later that night.
According to troopers, the mother reported the incident, and 40 minutes later, Martushev was found with the baby at another residence in Nikolaevsk, north of Homer. .
Megan Peters, troopers spokeswoman, didn't comment on whether Martushev was the child's father or not, but she did say that he has "no legal rights to the child."
The baby was returned to her mother unharmed.
The mother knew the man and was able to identify him to troopers, said Peters.
He was taken to Homer jail but is no longer listed as arrested.
Reach Benjamin Brasch at bbrasch@adn.com or 257-4349. Twitter: twitter.com/ben_brasch
By BENJAMIN S. BRASCH