A Willows woman has been arrested along with a Covelo man for allegedly taking part in the abduction of two small children last week.

Melissa Fay Britton, 45, was arrested late last week along with Leonard Dale Tuttle Jr., 30, for the abductions on Friday, March 9, of 2-year-old Randi Martinez and 5-year-old Vanessa Martinez, according to the Willows Police Department.

The girls' mother, 29-year-old Nancy Martinez, reported the girls had been taken shortly before 11 a.m. by Tuttle, her former boyfriend, police said.

Martinez and Tuttle had been in a relationship and living in Covelo until Martinez fled the week before the abductions, going to be with her family in Willows, according to police.

An Amber Alert was issued for the girls early on the afternoon of March 9. Just before 2:30 p.m. the California Highway Patrol contacted the Willows Police Department to report that as a result of the Amber Alert they had contacted Tuttle and had him in custody near Covelo.

According to police, because of the Amber Alert a motorist spotted Tuttle's white Mitsubishi Lancer  northbound on Highway 101. This motorist notified CHP, whose officers contacted Tuttle, who surrendered without any resistance.

Police said the girls were recovered unharmed and later reunited with their mother.

Tuttle was transported to the Mendocino County Jail and later was picked up by a police detective who took him back to Glenn County, according to the Willows Police Department.

On Friday just after 8 p.m. the Willows Police Department arrested Britton in Willows.

Both Britton and Tuttle both were booked on felony charges of child stealing, kidnapping and conspiracy. Tuttle's bail was set at $400,000 and Britton's at $280,000.

The Willows Police Department called the Amber Alert “a prime example of law enforcement and the general public working hand in hand” to protect the community.