Albert Lea Police Assist in AMBER Alert Recovery of Missing Zimmerman Child
Published: January 22nd, 2026 |
ZIMMERMAN / ALBERT LEA, MN. : The Albert Lea Police Department assisted in the successful recovery of a missing 7-year-old child following an AMBER Alert issued by the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office.
The child, identified as Brynlee, was reported missing after she was last seen at approximately 3:55 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, near the 26000 block of 13th Street West in Zimmerman. Authorities said she was wearing a black jacket, white boots, and blue snow pants, with a pink sweatshirt and black pants underneath. She was also carrying a backpack with keychains and trinkets. Brynlee is described as 4 feet 7 inches tall, weighing about 70 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes.
During the initial investigation, a black vehicle was reported to have been seen in the area following the school bus, though authorities noted it was unclear whether the vehicle was connected to the child’s disappearance.
In the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 22, at approximately 12:34 a.m., Albert Lea Police were notified of a vehicle traveling southbound on Interstate 35 that was potentially associated with the active AMBER Alert. Officers located the vehicle in the Albert Lea area and conducted a traffic stop.
During the investigation, officers confirmed a juvenile female inside the vehicle was Brynlee. She was safely recovered, and a 28-year-old man, Joseph Andrew Bragg of Maple Grove, was taken into custody.
Brynlee was transported to Mayo Clinic Health System – Albert Lea for a medical evaluation and was later reunited with her family.
The Albert Lea Police Department was assisted by the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office and Mayo Ambulance Service.
Officials said the incident highlights the importance of public awareness, interagency coordination, and swift law enforcement response during AMBER Alerts. AMBER stands for America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response, a system designed to quickly notify the public in cases of child abduction.