WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A trooper’s discovery during a routine traffic stop last month led to the rescue of a 6-year-old girl who had been kidnapped for weeks, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. 

The KHP said Saturday in a social post that the incident occurred when the trooper pulled over an SUV for a traffic violation.

Two men in their 60s and a young girl were in the vehicle. The post said a routine check revealed that one of the passengers had an outstanding warrant in the kidnapping of a 6-year-old girl just over a month earlier.

According to the KHP, the driver also had an extensive criminal history, including past homicide and weapons violations.

The trooper, with the assistance of a local sheriff’s deputy, detained both men and safely took the girl from the SUV.

Initially, she provided a false name and birthdate, the KHP said, seemingly “coached to do so” to protect her captor. After calming the girl, the trooper was able to get her to reveal her real identity, confirming that she was the missing child.

Authorities say the girl was unharmed and has since been placed in safe custody. The two men were arrested and are facing multiple charges.

“This case is a reminder of how a simple traffic stop can turn into something much bigger,” a Kansas Highway Patrol spokesperson said in the post. “Because of this trooper’s quick actions and training, a young girl is now safe and two dangerous individuals are off the streets.”

Authorities were working to reunite the child with her family.

The post did not say when or where the traffic stop and arrests occurred. When Nexstar’s KSNW reached out to the KHP for clarification, they said this incident happened in February, but they couldn’t give more details about the location or more specifics since it is an ongoing investigation.