Live Tempe Police Press Conference on Tammi Smith Arrest in Baby Gabriel Case

The 3:30pm (MST) LIVE press conference held by Tempe Police regarding the arrest of Tammi Smith was delayed until nearly 4pm. Spokesman Sgt. Steve Carbajal said that Tammi Smith was arrested on three charges, all Class 4 Felonies- Custodial Interference; Conspiracy to Commit Custodial Interference; Forgery.

Sgt. Carbajal said there was no incidence in arresting Tammi Smith. The police arrived and Smith came to the door. She asked not to be arrested in front of her daughter, Hannah, 4. The police complied. They placed Smith into a police car and took her to the Tempe Police Department. Police interviewed her. Sgt. Carbajal said there some information that police already knew. There was some new information but nothing that would lead any further in the investigation of missing Baby Gabriel. The Tempe spokesman said that Tammi Smith had intended to adopt the baby. "It's clear in a statement that she made to us and to the media that it was her intent to adopt Baby Gabriel," said Sgt. Carbajal.

The Tempe police spokesman said that Tammi Smith was helping the mother of Baby Gabriel, Elizabeth Johnson, who kidnapped Baby Gabriel taking him from Arizona to San Antonio Texas. "We believe Tammi Smith was working with her to help her along the way. We don't believe at this point that the Smiths have any information as to where Baby Gabriel is," said Sgt. Carbajal.

The Tempe investigation is concluding. The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) still have a missing person investigation. There is an active criminal prosecution in the works for Tammi Smith. Our information on the case is related to SAPD information so "we don't want to say anything that will harm the San Antonio investigation," said Sgt. Carbajal. He said that all leads and tips received by Tempe police were transferred to San Antonio.

Jack Smith is no longer a 'person of interest'. "Investigators weren't certain what involvement Jack may have played regarding criminal charges that could be brought against him," said Sgt. Carbajal. The Smiths computer equipment and adoption-related documents played a role in Tammi Smith's arrest. "Tammi was in hope to obtain Gabriel at some point," said Sgt. Carbajal. "At this point, of the utmost importance is the safety of Baby Gabriel."

Tammi Smith was booked at the Tempe Police Department. She will also be booked at the 4th Avenue Jail- a Maricopa County Jail run by self-proclaimed America's Toughest Sheriff, Joe Arpaio. There will probably be a hearing later today regarding the terms of her release.

After the press conference ended, news media flocked to Tammi Smith's high profile attorney Mike D. Kimerer. He was not allowed to see Smith. He said that he doesn't know what his client has been charged with. He's heard the charges from the news media but law enforcement has not formally told him what they are.

Kimerer said that a police intermediary told him that Tammi Smith is not being interviewed- which contradicts what Sgt. Carbajal said earlier in the conference that Smith had been interviewed and that information had come out- some old and some new.

Kimerer told news media that he found about the arrest when Tammi Smith called him from her home. "At that point, she didn't know what she was being charged for," said Kimerer. When asked about Smith's openness with the news media in past interviews, Kimerer responded that he saw no reason why Smith shouldn't continued to be open. But he says, she "probably did [said] some things that led to this arrest."

Kimerer saw no reason for arresting Tammi Smith. He indicated that other legal avenues were possible. "Given all her cooperation, she's not going to run. They could have issued a summons to here, we would have appeared;" said Kimerer.

Sources: MyFoxPhoenix live video feed;