A suspect has been arrested following a failed attempt to grab an 8-year-old child and run off with her near Lincoln Blvd and Maple Street.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), on August 21, at about 2:30pm, officers responded to a call of a suspicious person in the 800 block of the alley south of Maple Street. The reporting party told dispatchers the female suspect attempted to grab the 8-year-old child and run off with her. A second reporting party told officers the female suspect fled southbound toward the Gelson’s parking lot. Fortunately, the child was not harmed.
Officers located the suspect, identified as 39-year-old Courtney Perrone, standing next to a white BMW in the Gelson’s parking lot. She was positively identified by witnesses. The investigation revealed that the child victim was in the alley with an adult neighbor helping to put several pets into the neighbor’s vehicle.
The suspect approached, claiming she was a member of the Russian police and that she was taking the child. Perrone knelt and put her arms around the child and a tug of war between the neighbor and Perrone ensued. The neighbor put the child in the front seat of his vehicle and told Perrone to leave. She ignored him and attempted to open the door of the car. When the neighbor confronted her again, Perrone produced a switchblade knife.
She left on foot in the alley and was later detained. According to SMPD, Perrone appears to be homeless and is living out of her vehicle (the white BMW). She has multiple prior out of state arrests for assault and battery, resisting arrest, possession of controlled substance and trespassing. The suspect was recently arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department for Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Not a Firearm), but was released for insufficient evidence.
She has outstanding warrants from New Hampshire for Forgery and Intimidation (Stalking). She is currently on probation out of Nevada for a 2024 Assault with a Deadly Weapon conviction. This is her first interaction with the SMPD.
Perrone will be arraigned on August 23 and she faces felony charges of Attempted Kidnapping (207(a) PC) and False Imprisonment (237(a) PC). She will also be charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon (245(a)(1) PC).
The incident is the second time a child has been targeted in the city in recent weeks.
In July, a 4-year-old was abducted from the Panda Express restaurant in the 1900 block of Lincoln Boulevard and was later found in a room at the Holiday Motel & Suites at 1102 Pico Boulevard, along with the suspect.
In that case, Breanna Taylor Shields (DOB 1/22/93) walked into the restaurant and was able to walk away with a child while her grandmother was distracted. More than 30 sworn officers, together with civilian personnel, flooded the area, searching for the subject. Officers from the Downtown Services Unit located the suspect and child in a room at the motel where the suspect was living. Thankfully, the child was unharmed and the suspect was taken into custody.
Anyone with information about the Perrone incident is asked to contact Detective Jauregui, Sgt. Haro or the Watch Commander desk 24 hours a day at (310) 458-8427.
+ + + UPDATE + + +
According to the SMPD, Perrone was arraigned Friday and pleaded not guilty. The defense declared a doubt as to her competency per PC 1368. Criminal proceedings are suspended pending the defendant’s mental health proceedings on September 9 at the Hollywood Courthouse. The court set bail at $135,000 during arraignment. If convicted as charged, Perrone faces a maximum sentence of 6½ years in prison.
scott.snowden@smdp.com
