Bellingham couple who fled with kids found in California; mom arrested

BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — Authorities say three missing children at the center of a Washington state child welfare case have been found with their parents in California. A California Highway Patrol officer says the mother was arrested.

KSBW reports (http://is.gd/5mwCyK ) someone called 911 on Thursday to say the family was at a gas station in Aptos, south of San Francisco.

Patrol officers and Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputies responded.

Washington state's Child Protective Services says 23-year-old Cleave Rengo, 29-year-old Erica Carey and their young children disappeared in late January during a dispute with the agency, which obtained a court order to place the Rengo children in protective custody.

California Highway Patrol spokesman Bradley Sadek says Carey became distraught when CPS workers arrived to take custody of the children.

Sadek says the woman head-butted a sergeant and kicked a sheriff's deputy. He says she was arrested for investigation of resisting and battery.