Minneapolis police are searching for a 9-year-old boy taken from his custodial caregiver’s home by his mother, who does not have parental rights.

Investigators say that Latiena Smith, 27, came to the back door of the home just after midnight on Sunday and took the boy, Azherian Kingston Smith. The two left the house on foot, but police say they may have left the area in an unknown vehicle, direction of travel unknown.

Azherian is described as 4 feet 8 inches tall and was last seen wearing a white shirt and gray jogging pants with white dots. His mother is 5 feet 2 inches tall, police said.

Detectives said that there is an order of protection barring Latiena Smith from contact with her son’s custodial caregiver.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension issued an endangered missing person alert for the boy.

Police asked that any sightings of the mother or the boy or information about their whereabouts be reported immediately to 911.

Anonymous tips can be submitted online at www.CrimeStoppersMN.org or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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[Featured image: Azherian Smith and Latiena Smith/Minneapolis Police Department]