A deranged 39-year-old woman claiming to be from the Russian police allegedly attempted to kidnap an 8-year-old girl. The child was rescued by her neighbor, who is like an “uncle” to the young man.
The alleged child abductor, identified as Courtney Perrone, approached the girl as she was helping her neighbor load some animals into his car on Wednesday afternoon, a local newspaper reported ABC7 News reported.
Perrone ran to the vehicle parked south of Maple Street in Santa Monica and placed her arms around the child before shouting, “That’s my daughter, that’s my daughter.”
A tug-of-war ensued between the neighbor and Perrone, and at one point the threat held a stiletto in his face before running away.
She was found by officers shortly afterward in the parking lot of Gelson’s, a local grocery store. Witnesses told officers that she was the one who tried to kidnap the child.
Courtney Perrone, 39, faces charges of attempted kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment, and a misdemeanor knife charge
Mark struggled with Perrone after she tried to kidnap the 8-year-old on Wednesday afternoon
Police were called to Maple Street, a neighborhood in Santa Monica where the kidnapping attempt was thwarted.
According to police, Perrone was homeless and appeared to be living in her BMW.
The neighbor, who identified himself as Mark, said the child was like a niece to him and that the woman “acted like it was her child,” the news outlet reported.
He recalled her unkempt appearance, saying, “She had lipstick all over her face and just looked a little crazy and stuff.”
He added: ‘She said something like, “I am the Russian police and I am here to save you.”‘
Perrone faces charges of attempted kidnapping and false imprisonment, and a felony knife charge. Her arraignment was Friday.
Perrone, pictured with red lipstick across her face, is homeless and living in her BMW, police said
According to Santa Monica police, this is her first incident with the department, but she has previously been arrested out of state for assault, resisting arrest, possession of narcotics and trespassing.
Perrone was involved in an alleged assault with a deadly weapon in Los Angeles, but was released due to insufficient evidence.
She is currently on probation for a case in Nevada and has an outstanding warrant for her arrest in New Hampshire, the news outlet reported.