SANTA MONICA, CA - A woman posing as a Russian police officer in Santa Monica was arrested Wednesday after she attempted to kidnap an eight-year-old girl. The woman was thwarted by a neighbor the girl was helping outside her home.
The girl's neighbor, thinking on his feet, secured her in his vehicle after the two adults engaged in a "tug-of-war" over her. The man then asked the alleged Russian cop to leave. Frustrated, the woman attempted to force the car's door open and pulled a switchblade on him before fleeing on foot. The girl was not injured.
According to KTLA, the woman, who is believed to be homeless, was located by police not far from the scene next to a white BMW in which she was sleeping. The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Courtney Perrone, has a substantial criminal history in California, including assault and battery, resisting arrest, trespassing, and possession of a controlled substance. She was also arrested recently on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon by the Los Angeles Police Department.
The outlet wrote that per investigators, the young girl was helping her neighbor move several pets into his vehicle, which was parked in an alleyway when the woman approached them. She claimed she was with the Russian police, and was there to take custody of the girl. The neighbor refused and took the girl's hand. The struggle then ensued.
In a post to X, the Santa Monica Police Department wrote, "On Wednesday, August 21st, a 39-year-old woman was arrested in Santa Monica for attempting to kidnap an 8-year-old child. The child was not harmed. Courtney Perrone was apprehended shortly after the incident, which involved a struggle with a neighbor who intervened. She faces felony charges of attempted kidnapping and false imprisonment."
The department said in a press release that Perrone currently has outstanding warrants in New Hampshire for Forgery and Intimidation and is on probation in Nevada stemming from a 2024 Assault with a Deadly Weapon conviction. She is now facing felony charges of Attempted Kidnapping, False imprisonment, and a misdemeanor count of Brandishing a weapon. She is set to be arraigned on August 23rd.
The department told reporters that the incident is still under investigation and encourages anyone with information to contact contact Detective Jauregui at Martin.Jauregui@santamonica.gov, Sgt. Haro at David.Haro@santamonica.gov, or the Watch Commander desk 24 hours a day at (310) 458-8427.
The girl's neighbor, thinking on his feet, secured her in his vehicle after the two adults engaged in a "tug-of-war" over her. The man then asked the alleged Russian cop to leave. Frustrated, the woman attempted to force the car's door open and pulled a switchblade on him before fleeing on foot. The girl was not injured.
According to KTLA, the woman, who is believed to be homeless, was located by police not far from the scene next to a white BMW in which she was sleeping. The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Courtney Perrone, has a substantial criminal history in California, including assault and battery, resisting arrest, trespassing, and possession of a controlled substance. She was also arrested recently on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon by the Los Angeles Police Department.
The outlet wrote that per investigators, the young girl was helping her neighbor move several pets into his vehicle, which was parked in an alleyway when the woman approached them. She claimed she was with the Russian police, and was there to take custody of the girl. The neighbor refused and took the girl's hand. The struggle then ensued.
On Wednesday, August 21st, a 39-year-old woman was arrested in Santa Monica for attempting to kidnap an 8-year-old child. The child was not harmed.
— Santa Monica Police (@SantaMonicaPD) August 22, 2024
Courtney Perrone was apprehended shortly after the incident, which involved a struggle with a neighbor who intervened. She faces… pic.twitter.com/vXqYgAZZ9p
In a post to X, the Santa Monica Police Department wrote, "On Wednesday, August 21st, a 39-year-old woman was arrested in Santa Monica for attempting to kidnap an 8-year-old child. The child was not harmed. Courtney Perrone was apprehended shortly after the incident, which involved a struggle with a neighbor who intervened. She faces felony charges of attempted kidnapping and false imprisonment."
The department said in a press release that Perrone currently has outstanding warrants in New Hampshire for Forgery and Intimidation and is on probation in Nevada stemming from a 2024 Assault with a Deadly Weapon conviction. She is now facing felony charges of Attempted Kidnapping, False imprisonment, and a misdemeanor count of Brandishing a weapon. She is set to be arraigned on August 23rd.
The department told reporters that the incident is still under investigation and encourages anyone with information to contact contact Detective Jauregui at Martin.Jauregui@santamonica.gov, Sgt. Haro at David.Haro@santamonica.gov, or the Watch Commander desk 24 hours a day at (310) 458-8427.
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Comments
2024-08-25T18:14-0500 | Comment by: Dawn
Another justice system fail. The cops arrest people like this and prosecutors/judges let them back out on the street. With a record as long as this woman has, particularly the violent offenses, she shouldn't be on the street. Period.