A woman who allegedly tried to kidnap two children in Glendale earlier this week was arrested Friday, police said.
Lisa Arnold, 52, of Glendale, was taken into custody about 2:30 a.m., said Glendale Police Sgt. Robert William.
“Detectives have been working through the night conducting interviews and search warrants,” William said.
“This investigation is still very active and detectives are working to determine a motive,” William said. “At this time, the Glendale Police Department is not looking for any other suspects.”
Wednesday’s two incidents occurred within 25 minutes and less than a mile away from each other, William said.
The first incident occurred at 5:11 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Chevy Chase Drive and Adams Street. Police said a mother was walking her infant child in a stroller when she was approached by a suspect who grabbed the child out of the stroller and attempted to flee.
The mother struggled over her baby and was able to get the child back before the suspect fled the scene in a small white or silver compact car, police said.
The second incident occurred at 5:35 p.m. just outside the John Marshall Elementary School campus located at 1201 E. Broadway, at the intersection of Chevy Chase Drive and Broadway.
An 8-year-old child reported to a 911 operator that someone tried to steal his 2-year-old brother, police said. In this incident, the mother was standing nearby and was able to stop the kidnapping. The suspect fled in a small, four-door silver sedan.
The 8-year-old witness described the suspect as a man who was dressed like a woman, and the child’s mother described the suspect as a male in his late 40s or 50s with salt-and-pepper hair and a “two-day-old beard,” police said. She also told police the suspect was dressed in a gray shirt with a multi- colored design on the front. The suspect in both incidents also called the children “cute” before attempting to take them, William said.
Anyone with information about the attempted kidnappings is urged to call (818) 548-4911.
—Staff and wire reports