PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY — A homeless man has been charged with trying to kidnap a baby in Santa Monica and resisting arrest after allegedly fighting with police, authorities said Thursday.
Lewis Clair Moss, 51, pleaded not guilty and is being held on $285,000 bail. He has been charged with kidnapping, assault by means likely to cause great bodily harm and felony resisting arrest, said Jane Robison with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Moss was arrested Monday by Santa Monica police who responded to a report of a man beating a woman in the 3200 block of Wilshire Boulevard. Police said Moss approached a grandmother who was pushing her 1-year-old grandson in a stroller around 3:40 in the afternoon. Moss allegedly tried to take the baby out of the stroller but couldn’t because the child was strapped in. Moss then began choking the child and eventually ripped off the baby’s clothing in the process.
Police said the grandmother tried to fight him off and she was punched by Moss several times in the face. A bystander intervened and wrestled with Moss, who kicked the man in the face. Moss eventually gave up and started to walk away. The victims ran to a nearby store until officers arrived.
The first officer on the scene confronted a hostile Moss, who failed to follow commands and physically attacked the officer. Police said after a lengthy struggle with the suspect that involved several officers and the use of a Taser, he was subdued and placed under arrest.
The baby suffered minor injuries to his head, neck, face and torso. The grandmother suffered a minor head and facial injuries, as did the man who tried to help. All were treated by paramedics. The three officers involved in the arrest received minor injuries.
Moss is expected back in court on July 27.
kevinh@www.smdp.com