Remember that AMBER Alert on Memorial Day, where a Chagrin Falls father said his estranged wife had taken their three daughters to Pennsylvania? A committee set up to review such alerts in northeast Ohio has ruled the criteria wasn't met when police issued an alert.

The panel is made up of law enforcement, emergency communication workers and the media, and after meeting recently with Chagrin Falls Police Department officials determined the criteria wasn't met when Chagrin Falls PD asked for the alert to be issued. AMBER Alerts, in general, aren't recommended in most disputed custody cases, and it there are still many questions still remaining from this particular case.

The Chagrin Falls father who first filed the report with police told them his estranged wife didn't have custody, may have a weapon in the car and was heading out of state. Police contacted their counterparts in Pennsylvania, who reached the woman on her cell phone. She was enroute to her parent's home near Lancaster, PA and she agreed to meet with police. A gun was never found in the car, and it's questionable if there were custody issues between the couple.

The review board approved three alerts issued by Cleveland police, even calling their investigative work "commendable" in their findings after a review hearing earlier this month.

PRIOR COVERAGE: UPDATE AMBER Alert Canceled For Chagrin Falls Kids

- - -

(Northeast Ohio AMBER Task Force) The Northeast Ohio Amber Board Bylaws requires the Review Board Committee to determine if the criteria were satisfactorily met for any activation.  On Wednesday, June 20, 2012, the Northeast Ohio Amber Alert Review Board met with Chagrin Falls Chief James Brosius and Ms. Lisa Mariola, Communications Administrator to review their activation report.  On Monday, May 28, 2012, the Chagrin Falls Police Department issued an AMBER Alert for three young children taken by their mother. The children and mother were located several hours later safe and unharmed in Pennsylvania. After careful review and discussion of the information provided, the Review Board decided the criteria were not satisfactorily met. 

On Wednesday, June 20, 2012, the Northeast Ohio Amber Alert Review Board met with Sergeant Sam Morris, PIO (Public Information Officer) for the Cleveland Division of Police to review their three activation reports.

On Saturday, February 18, 2012, the Cleveland Division of Police issued an AMBER Alert for a 2 year old girl along with her mother was abducted by the mother’s boyfriend. Tragically both were found murdered by the father who committed suicide. The criteria were satisfactorily met.

On Monday, March 26, 2012, the Cleveland Division of Police after an exhausting investigation issued an AMBER Alert for a 4 year old male who was lured away by an adult male living in the home. The boy and the abductor were seen the next morning walking on a street in East Cleveland. Someone recognized them from the Alert and notified the police. The boy was rescued unharmed and the abductor was arrested. The criteria were satisfactorily met.

On Wednesday, April 18, 2012, the Cleveland Division of Police issued an AMBER Alert for 4 young children that the father threaten to kill during a physical assault on the mother. The father then proceeds to the four different schools and removed the children. He was apprehended before causing harm to the children. The criteria were satisfactorily met.

The Cleveland Division of Police directed commendable investigations before issuing all three alerts.