A woman who allegedly tried to abduct two young children in Glendale within less than a half-hour was charged Tuesday with two felony counts of attempted kidnapping.
Lisa A. Arnold, 52, of Glendale, pleaded not guilty during an appearance in a Glendale courtroom.
The charges include the allegation that both children were under 14, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The two attempted abductions occurred within 25 minutes and less than a mile away from each other last Wednesday, according to Glendale police Sgt. Robert William.
Surveillance video of the first attempt showed a mother who was approached at Chevy Chase Drive and Adams Street at 5:11 p.m. by a suspect who grabbed an infant out of a stroller and tried to flee, according to police.
The mother was able to get the child back before the suspect fled the scene in a small white or silver compact car, police said.
That attempt involved a 14-month-old girl, according to prosecutors.
The second attempt occurred at 5:35 p.m. just outside the John Marshall Elementary School campus located at 1201 E. Broadway, involving a boy who turned 3 earlier this month, authorities said.
An 8-year-old child reported to a 911 operator that someone tried to steal his younger brother, police said. The boys’ mother was standing nearby and was able to stop the kidnapping, and the suspect fled in a small, four-door silver sedan, police said.
In both cases, the suspect called the children “cute” before trying to take them, William said.
Arnold was arrested by Glendale police just after 2:30 a.m. Friday, and has remained jailed since then.
She was ordered to be held in lieu of $100,000 bail, and is due back in court Aug. 29 for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require her to stand trial.
If she is convicted as charged, Arnold could face more than nine years in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
–City News Service