Southern California police say woman, 39, pretended to be Russian police in effort to kidnap 8-year-old
An 8-year-old girl is safe despite almost being kidnapped by a woman posing as a Russian police officer in Santa Monica on Wednesday, according to authorities. The incident was reported at about 2:30 p.m. in the 800 block of the alley south of Maple Street, according to the Santa Monica Police Department. Investigations revealed that an 8-year-old girl was assisting a neighbor put several pets in his vehicle that was parked in the alley. The woman, later identified as 39-year-old Courtney Perrone, approached the pair and stated that she was with Russian police and was there to take the child, police said. Perrone and the man then had what the police called a “tug-of-war” for the child, whom Perrone allegedly grabbed. The man ultimately won the struggle and secured the child in his vehicle, ordering Perrone to leave. The child was unharmed during the incident. Police return to Sun Valley ‘hoarder’ property, make arrest Perrone refused to leave and subsequently tried to pry the vehicle door open. She then pulled out a switchblade knife, police said. Perrone eventually fled the scene on foot. There were