This surveillance image shared by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office shows Melodee and Ashlee Buzzard at a rental car location in Lompoc, California on October 7. Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office

The mother of a 9-year-old California girl who vanished during their road trip more than two weeks ago was arrested Friday on a felony charge of false imprisonment – but it’s not directly related to the search for her daughter, officials said.

Investigators were looking into the disappearance of Ashlee Buzzard’s daughter Melodee when they learned the mother had recently “prevented a victim from leaving a location against their will,” the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release .

“This crime is not connected to the ongoing search for Melodee, however, detec

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