The Los Angeles Police Department said a 3-year-old boy was taken around 8:13 a.m. during a home invasion in Van Nuys.
Officers say it may have stemmed from a custody dispute between the suspect and victim.
The suspect, described only as an adult man, fled the scene in a black Chevrolet Equinox rental with Oregon license plates. Police said he possibly had a firearm in his waistband.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the SUV was located around 12:30 p.m. and was equipped with "OnStar."
That allowed it to be disabled electronically just north of Shields Avenue in Fresno County, where the man was taken into custody.
The 3-year-old was found safe inside the vehicle and is now headed back home.