By John Perrotto

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. _ The wife of Pirates outfield prospect Jose Tabata was arrested Tuesday for alleged abducting a 2-month-old girl in Plant City, Fla.

Amaila Tabata Pereira was found with 10-pound Sandra Cruz-Francisco standing at a street corner in Bradenton, Fla., the city where the Pirates hold spring training, on Tuesday afternoon. The baby had been reported missing by her mother, Rosa Sirilo-Francisco, at 9 p.m. Monday.

Plant City is located 56 miles northeast of Bradenton.

Tabata Pereira was charged with false imprisonment, interference with child custody and impersonating a social service worker.

Jose Tabata said in a statement released by the Pirates late Tuesday night that he had no knowledge of the abduction.

"I was shocked to be told today that my wife has been arrested for kidnapping," Tabata said. "I am hurt, frustrated and confused by her actions. I have and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement officials in any way that I can. Until I have all of the facts, I cannot comment any further."

According to the St. Petersburg Times, the mother told a Plant City police investigator she was leaving a health department office in mid-afternoon Monday where she had taken her baby for a routine checkup when a woman named Janet claimed to be an immigration employee.

The woman said Rosa Francisco should give the baby to her or risk being deported. Police believe that woman was Tabata Pereira.

Tabata Pereira was being held in the Manatee County Jail in Bradenton on Tuesday night and is expected to make her first court appearances Wednesday morning.

Police said the 43-year-old Tabata Pereira also goes by the names Alalia Rivera, Amalia Segui and Almalia Maldonao. The Pirates media guide lists her first name as Mayita and media relations director Jim Trdinich said that was the information provided to the club by Jose Tabata.

Tabata, 20, was married this past December in Hillsborough County, where Plant City is located.

Pirates officials had no comment after the Pirates' 5-2 win over the Atlanta Braves in an exhibition game Tuesday night at Champion Stadium in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., beyond a prepared stadium by president Frank Connelly.

"This is an extremely serious matter and we have given the matter our full attention," Connelly said. "While we have received very little information at this point in the investigation, we have received no indication that Jose is believed to have had an involvement in the matter.

"We are attempting to secure more information as quickly as possible. Until we receive further information, it would be inappropriate to comment further other than to say we will provide whatever assistance we can to the sheriff's office and to Jose as they deal with the matter."

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