Attempted Kidnapping Arrest
August 22, 2024 1:12 PM
On August 21, 2024, at about 2:30 p.m., Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) officers responded to a call of a suspicious person in the 800 block of the alley south of Maple Street in Santa Monica. The reporting party told dispatchers the female suspect attempted to grab an 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. The child was not harmed.
Officers located the suspect, identified as 40-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 saying she was 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 ensues. 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.
Perrone appears to be homeless and is living out of her vehicle (the 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 LAPD’s Pacific Division 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 contact with the SMPD.
Perrone will be arraigned on August 23rd. She faces felony charges of Attempted Kidnapping (207(a) PC) and False Imprisonment (237(a) PC). She will also be charged with misdemeanor Brandishing (417 PC).
Anyone with information about this incident or suspect is asked to 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.
Please forward all media inquiries to Erika.aklufi@santamonica.gov.
Media Contact
Erika Aklufi
Lieutenant
Erika.Aklufi@santamonica.gov
