Glendale woman pleads not guilty to attempted kidnapping charges
A 52-year-old Glendale woman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that she attempted to kidnap two young children in back-to-back incidents near Glendale schools last week, officials said.
Lisa Arnold was charged with two felony counts of attempted kidnapping, with a special allegation that the children were under 14 years old, according to the Los Angeles district attorney’s office.
Arnold reportedly admitted to investigators that she attempted to kidnap the children, claiming her actions were a result of her “mental status,” said Glendale Police Sgt. Robert William. He declined to elaborate further.
Shortly after 5 p.m. last Wednesday, a mother pushing her 14-month-old daughter in a stroller near Chevy Chase Drive and Adams Street noticed a stranger, later identified as Arnold, park her car in a red zone and walk toward her.
Arnold reportedly called the baby “cute” and attempted to lift her up, but the baby, who police initially said was a boy, was buckled into the stroller.
The stranger then hurriedly tried to unbuckle the strap, but the mother pushed her away. After the brief struggle, Arnold walked back to her silver, four-door hatchback and drove off.
Police released video footage of the incident, which was captured by a nearby surveillance camera.
About 20 minutes later, outside John Marshall Elementary School, an 8-year-old boy called police to report that someone tried to snatch his 3-year-old brother. Police initially said the boy was 2.
AUDIO >> Listen to the 8-year-old boy’s phone 911 call to Glendale police
The suspect had pulled up to a curb, walked up to the family and picked up the toddler, again calling him “cute.”
The child’s mother slapped or punched Arnold, after which she put the child down, walked back to her car and drove away.
Investigators identified Arnold and arrested her at around 2:30 a.m. Friday.
She is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and is due back in court later this month.
If convicted, Arnold faces more than nine years in state prison.
