The 36-year-old man who is in custody in connection with the Cleo Smith abduction case is expected to be charged today and will be interviewed by the police, officials say.

Meanwhile, the lead investigators in the case have urged the public to refrain from spreading “wild” conspiracy theories on social media.

WA Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch told the media that the man was taken to hospital twice as a precautionary measure after he was injured in custody, before being taken back to the Carnarvon police station, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The interview process is expected to continue on Thursday afternoon, it said.

Seven West media issued an apology for wrongly identifying an Aboriginal man as the main suspect in the Cleo Smith abduction case.

Four-year-old Cleo Smith was reunited with her family on Wednesday.

Local reports said that around midday on Wednesday, 7NEWS.com.au published an article on their website with two images of a person they identified — incorrectly — as the 36-year-old Carnarvon man who was taken into custody by the West Australian Police in connection with Cleo’s abduction hours earlier.

The media platform had taken those images from Facebook.

However, just before midnight, Seven West published an apology online. The statement read: “Earlier on Wednesday 7NEWS wrongly showed images of a man that were incorrectly labelled as the person under arrest over the disappearance of Cleo Smith. These were removed promptly, but 7NEWS apologises for the error.”

The community members in Carnarvon pointed out their mistake on social media.

Pilbara-based First Nations broadcaster Ngaarda Media said that the wrongly accused man has contacted the police for this false information.

“A man who has been wrongly accused has been harassed online due to misinformation. Because people jump the gun when they look up Facebook, they put in [his name] straight away,” they posted.

Police have finally released the audio of the moment four-year-old Cleo Smith was found by officers locked in a bedroom at a Carnarvon house.

An officer can be heard saying: “We’ve got her, we’ve got her” and then another officer says, “Hey, bubby, come here. I’ve got you, bubby, you’re alright.”

In the audio, the WA police detective senior sergeant Cameron Blaine then asks Cleo, “What’s your name, what’s your name? What’s your name sweetheart?”

The four-year-old can be heard saying: “My name is Cleo.

“Your name is Cleo”, “Hello Cleo”, the officers respond.

Western Australia state government had offered a $1 million reward for information to find Cleo but authorities do not expect it to be claimed, it was reported on Thursday.

Authorities have not said exact what intelligence led officers to find the girl.

Police Minister Paul Papalia said the breakthrough had not been sparked by a chance sighting but rather “hard police grind”.

“From the moment this investigation began, the Western Australian police force conducted themselves to the absolute highest level of professionalism,” he told 7 News.

Western Australia Deputy Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the suspected kidnapper of four-year-old Chloe Smith was “assisting” detectives — but it’s still unclear if he is fit to be interviewed amid reports he has been injured.

“He’s gone off to hospital again this morning,” Mr Blanch told Sunrise on 7 News.

“The important thing for police, if we’re going to interview someone about offences as serious as this ... we will need them in a condition where they have had a rest, they’re in a good mental state, they’ve been fed.

“So, we’ve got to make sure we give them the best opportunity to answer questions and that’s to ensure that the court process is validated if we get to that point.”

One of the officers involved in the rescue of Cleo Smith had missed his son’s school graduation, the police minister has said.

Western Australia’s police minister Paul Papalia praised the four officers, noting that one of them had missed his son’s leaving event.

“He told us last night a story, he’d apologised to his son and his son said to him, ‘Dad, what you’re doing is way too important’, and it is an incredible thing to see,” Mr Papalia said.

Four-year-old Cleo Smith has spent her first night back with her family, after going missing for a total of 18 days.

Western Australia deputy police commissioner Col Blanch told the 2GB radio station: “(Cleo’s parents) had a small amount of hope but I’m pretty sure they thought they were never going to give her a cuddle again.”

“I’m pretty sure they all slept in the same room, just cuddling all night.”

The man suspected of kidnapping four-year-old Cleo Smith was hospitalised after being attacked in custody, reports have suggested.

Another prisoner is thought to have beaten up the 36-year-old after learning who he was, according to the Australian media.

The alleged attacker’s mum told Daily Mail Australia: “As soon as he heard this bloke was arrested over that little Cleo, he blew up, beat him black and blue.

“I tell you what, he got a real hiding... my son had to be taken out in shackles,” she added.

Western Australia police will give Cleo Smith time with her family before they ask her about what happened during her 18-day disappearance, the force’s deputy police commissioner has said.

Col Blanch told the 2GB radio channel that she spent last night with her family for the first time

Neighbours have described the 36-year-old taken into custody by police in Australia as an overweight man with long black hair.

Speaking to ABC News, one resident, who lives near the home where Cleo Smith was rescued, said she had seen him coming and going from the property over the past two weeks.

“I just saw him in and out, by his house,” she said.