PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland police are searching for a 3-year-old boy who was reported missing by his mother early Thursday morning.

Police said the boy's father, Jesus Merino Leyva, also known as Chu Cho, took the child from his mother's home and didn't return. According to the boy's mother, Leyva told her he was planning on killing the child and himself.

Around 12:45 a.m. on Thursday, police officers were flagged down by the boy's mother in the 6800 block of Northeast Killingsworth Street.

Investigators said Leyva is mentally unstable and poses an immediate threat to the child's safety.

At the time the child was taken, there was a restraining order that prohibited Leyva from being in contact with the child or the mother.

Leyva is described as Hispanic, 37 years old, 5 feet 5 inches tall and 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Police said he is currently clean-shaven and his hair is shorter than pictured in his driver's license photo.

The child, Jesus Merino Mendoza, is described as Hispanic, 3 feet 2 inches tall and 36 pounds with short-cropped brown hair. He was last seen wearing a blue, jersey-style tank top with a number on the front, blue shorts and sandals. He has a faint V-shaped birthmark on his forehead.

According to Jesus' family, the father said he was switching cars and may be headed to Mexico.

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up $1,000 for information that leads to resolution in the case. If you have information, you can call Crime Stoppers at 503-823-4357.

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Police: Missing 3-Year-Old May Be In Danger