Missing 7-Year-Old Safely Recovered After AMBER Alert; Albert Lea Police Assist in Arrest

ALBERT LEA, Minn. — A 7-year-old girl at the center of an AMBER Alert issued Wednesday was safely recovered early Thursday morning after Albert Lea Police Department officers located a vehicle believed to be connected to the case.

The AMBER Alert was issued by the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office for Brynlee Nelson, who was reported missing after last being seen at approximately 3:55 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, near the 26000 block of 13th Street West in Zimmerman, Minnesota.

Authorities said Brynlee was last seen wearing a black jacket, white boots, and blue snow pants, with a pink sweatshirt and black pants underneath. She was carrying a backpack with keychains and trinkets. Brynlee is described as 4 feet 7 inches tall, weighing approximately 70 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes.

A black vehicle was reported to have been observed in the area following the school bus, though it was initially unclear whether the vehicle was connected to the child’s disappearance.

In the early morning hours of Jan. 22, at approximately 12:34 a.m., the Albert Lea Police Department was notified of a vehicle traveling southbound on Interstate 35 that may have been 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 that a juvenile female inside the vehicle was Brynlee Nelson. She was safely recovered, and Joseph Andrew Bragg, a 28-year-old man from Maple Grove, Minnesota, was taken into custody.

Brynlee was transported to Mayo Clinic Health System–Albert Lea for 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 during the response.

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 alert the public in cases involving abducted children.

For additional information regarding the AMBER Alert, authorities advise contacting the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office.

The mission of the Albert Lea Police Department is to enhance the quality of life in Albert Lea by providing excellent public safety services through leadership, integrity, and collaborative partnerships with the community.