Santa Monica: Woman Accused of Posing as Russian Police, Trying to Kidnap Child
Above: Courtney Perrone booking photo
Courtesy of Santa Monica Police Department
Police in Santa Monica have reportedly arrested a woman for allegedly trying to kidnap a child while posing as a Russian police officer.
According to a press release by the Santa Monica Police Department, officers responded on the afternoon of Thursday, Aug. 21, to an alley south of Maple Street to investigate a report of an attempted kidnapping.
Officers learned that the victim, an 8-year-old child, had been helping their neighbor with getting their pets into a vehicle when an unknown adult woman approached, claimed to be Russian police, and stated she was taking the child.
The woman allegedly put her arms around the child and a “tug of war” between her and the neighbor followed. The neighbor then reportedly put the child in the front seat of his vehicle and told the suspect to leave. The suspect allegedly tried to open the front door of the car and produced a switchblade when confronted again, but then left on foot.
The child was not harmed.
Officers soon located the suspect standing in the Gelson’s parking lot and took her into custody. Police identified the suspect as Courtney Perrone, 40.
Perrone reportedly faces felony charges of attempted kidnapping and false imprisonment, as well as a misdemeanor charge of brandishing, police said.
