A 10-year-old girl who was allegedly abducted by her father weeks earlier was rescued in Praia Grande, on the coast of Brazil’s São Paulo state, after discreetly winking at a military police officer to signal that she needed help.

The rescue took place early Wednesday, October 7, in the Guilhermina neighborhood. Officers returning from another incident noticed the girl and her father walking in the rain at an unusual hour, when nearby businesses were closed. They decided to approach the pair to investigate.

According to the girl’s mother, the child winked at one of the officers as they approached, signaling that something was wrong. The father reportedly tried to mislead the officers with a story about his mother’s death, while the girl continued signaling that he was lying.

The man attempted to flee but was arrested after a police pursuit. The girl then told officers that her father had taken her by force on September 20, after allegedly assaulting his former partner at a hotel in Barueri and leaving her there.

The girl had a mobile phone belonging to her mother, which allowed investigators to maintain contact with the family. Her mother described the officer who recognized the signal as a hero, saying the rescue had brought her relief after weeks of fear and distress.