Mother of missing California girl arrested on unrelated charges

LOMPOC, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - The mother of a missing nine-year-old California girl was taken into custody Friday on a charge unrelated to her daughter's disappearance.

Ashley Buzzard was seen handcuffed and being led by Santa Barbara County Sheriff's officials from her Vandenberg Village home into a waiting sheriff's vehicle.

Officials say detectives recently learned Buzzard had prevented someone from leaving a location against their will. She is charged with felony false imprisonment.

Meanwhile, officials say investigators remain focused on locating nine-year old Melodee, reported missing on October 14 by her school after a prolonged absence.

Sheriff's officials narrowed their investigation to the period between October 9 and 10 when mother and daughter were on a multi-state road trip to Nebraska.

They say Melodee was last captured on surveillance video near the Colorado-Utah border October 9, but when Buzzard returned home the next day, Melodee was no longer with her.

Security camera video from the car rental agency when they started the trip has been released.

Investigators say Buzzard has not been cooperative with detectives.