California Woman Arrested for Allegedly Posing as Russian Cop in Bizarre Kidnapping Attempt, Police Say

A woman in California has been arrested after she allegedly claimed to be a Russian police officer while attempting to kidnap a young girl who was helping out a neighbor, according to authorities.

Around 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 21, officers received a phone call from someone who said there was a suspicious person in the alley who tried running away with an 8-year-old girl, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

Police then received a second phone call saying the suspect ran toward a grocery store parking lot in Santa Monica.

Officers responded to the Gelson’s parking lot and found 40-year-old Courtney Perrone standing next to a vehicle.

A witness reportedly positively identified Perrone as the alleged attempted kidnapper.

According to authorities, the girl was helping her neighbor put pets in her car when Perron approached them saying “she was Russian police and that she was taking the child.”

Perrone allegedly wrapped her arms around the girl, which caused a “tug of war between the neighbor and Perrone,” officials said.

The neighbor was able to free the girl and put her in the front seat of the car, but Perrone allegedly tried to open the door.

Perrone is then accused of pulling out a switchblade before fleeing the scene.

The neighbor who was with the girl told CBS News, “She was like, ‘I’m Russian police, and I’m here to save you.’”

The neighbor also said that Perrone “had lipstick all over her face and just looked a little crazy and stuff.”

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Authorities said Perrone was homeless and living out of her car. She also reportedly had several warrants for her arrest in other states for assault and battery, possession of a controlled substance, trespassing, and resisting arrest.

At the time of her arrest, the suspect was on probation from a conviction of assault with a deadly weapon in Nevada. She was also recently arrested for assault with a deadly weapon (not a firearm), but she was released because of “insufficient evidence,” police said.

She faces charges of attempted kidnapping and false imprisonment, both felonies, as well as brandishing, a misdemeanor, according to officials.