Santa Monica police arrested a woman on Wednesday after she allegedly attempted to kidnap an 8-year-old girl while posing as a Russian police officer.

The suspect, 39-year-old Courtney Perrone, has multiple arrests in different states for resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, trespassing, assault and battery, according to Santa Monica police. Los Angeles Police Department officers arrested Perrone for assault with a deadly weapon, but she was released due to insufficient evidence.

Investigators said she had warrants out of New Hampshire for forgery and intimidation. She is currently on probation for a 2024 Nevada conviction for assault with a deadly weapon.

Perrone is now charged with attempted kidnapping and false imprisonment, both felonies. According to SMPD, prosecutors also charged her with the misdemeanor of weapons.

Investigators say the attempted kidnapping occurred when the 8-year-old girl was helping her neighbor load several pets into a car. Perrone allegedly approached the two and claimed she was a Russian police officer and was going to take the child with her.

“She said, ‘I am the Russian police and I am here to save you,'” said Mark, the neighbor who was with the girl.

Mark claimed the woman tried to persuade the girl to go with her before telling her to leave. Officers said she then knelt down and tried to snatch the child away from Mark.

“She acted like it was her child,” Mark recalled. “She ran at her. She grabbed her. She held her cheek to control her. It was like she wanted to pull her away.”

Mark grabbed the child and placed her in the front seat of his car. Perrone appeared to take down the vehicle’s information before attempting to pull the girl from Mark’s car.

When he confronted her again, she pulled out a switchblade.

“I slammed the door and said, ‘You better get out of here now,'” Mark said. “As I did, she reached into her purse, pulled out a switchblade and held it out to me.”

Mark said he backed up, jumped into her car and then drove away as the woman ran after them.

“I just wanted to take care of her,” he said. “I mean, I love her to death. I would give my life for her.”

Officers tracked her down in a nearby Gelson parking lot next to her white BMW. Police believe she was living in her car and appeared to be homeless.

Anyone with information about the case should contact Detective Jauregui at [email protected] or Sergeant Haro at [email protected]. You may also call the Watch Commander anytime at (310) 458-8427.