Santa Monica police arrested a 39-year-old woman for allegedly trying to kidnap an 8-year-old child, the department announced Thursday.
Responding to a call on a suspicious person in the 800 block of the alley south of Maple Street, just north of Ocean Park Boulevard, around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, officers found and detained Courtney Perrone, who had tried to flee after the unsuccessful kidnapping attempt, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
Perrone approached the child, who had been helping a neighbor load some pets into a vehicle. Perrone allegedly approached and said she was a Russian police officer. She took the child, leading to a physical altercation with the neighbor.
Securing the uninjured child to the front seat of his vehicle, the neighbor tried to get Perrone to leave before she threatened him with a switchblade-style knife and attempted to open the car door.
Witnesses saw her running away from the scene, toward a Gelson’s parking lot where she was found next to a white BMW car. Police said Perrone appeared to be homeless and living out of the vehicle.
Perrone has prior out-of-state arrests for assault and battery, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance and trespassing, according to the SMPD.
Perrone was recently released for insufficient evidence by the Los Angeles Police Department for an alleged assault with a deadly weapon. She is also currently on probation, stemming from a case in Nevada, and has an outstanding warrant for her arrest from New Hampshire.
The SMPD reported that this is Perrone’s first contact with the department and will be arraigned Friday. She faces felony charges of attempted kidnapping and false imprisonment, a misdemeanor charge for the knife.
Anyone with information regarding the suspect or the incident was asked to contact Detective Jauregui at Martin.Jauregui@santamonica.gov, Sergeant Haro at David.Haro@santamonica.gov, or the 24-hour Watch Commander desk at 310-458-8427.