L.A. woman allegedly pretended to be Russian police while trying to kidnap young child

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (TCN) -- A 40-year-old woman was arrested this week for allegedly claiming she was a Russian police officer while attempting to kidnap a young girl who was helping out a neighbor.

According to the Santa Monica Police Department, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 2:30 p.m., officers received an initial call from someone who said there was a suspicious person in the alley who tried running away with an 8-year-old girl. A second person called police and said the suspect ran toward a grocery store parking lot. Officers responded to the Gelson’s market lot and found Courtney Perrone standing next to a vehicle. A witness reportedly positively identified Perrone as the alleged attempted kidnapper.

Police said the girl was assisting her neighbor put pets in her car when Perrone allegedly approached them "saying she was Russian police and that she was taking the child."

Perrone allegedly wrapped her arms around the girl, which caused a "tug of war between the neighbor and Perrone." The neighbor freed the girl and put her in the front seat of the car, but Perrone allegedly tried to open the door. Perrone reportedly pulled out a switchblade, then fled.

Santa Monica Police said Perrone was homeless and living out of her car. There are reportedly several warrants for her arrest in other states for assault and battery, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, and trespassing. She is on probation from a conviction of assault with a deadly weapon in Nevada. According to the statement, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Pacific Division arrested her recently for assault with a deadly weapon (not a firearm), but she was released because of "insufficient evidence."

She was arrested on charges of attempted kidnapping and false imprisonment, both felonies, as well as brandishing, a misdemeanor.