A grandmother experienced a terrifying event last Friday when her 4-year-old granddaughter was taken from a restaurant in Santa Monica.
Thankfully, police found the suspect in less than 30 minutes and safely recovered the child.
The incident happened just after noon at a Panda Express on Lincoln Boulevard. The grandmother called the police at 12:11 p.m., frantic because her granddaughter had been abducted. Witnesses saw the suspect somehow convince the little girl to leave with her while the grandmother was paying for their meal. They walked down Pico Boulevard and were out of sight before the grandmother realized the girl was missing.
Police arrived within a minute and gathered video footage of the incident and the suspected kidnapper, a woman in her 30s.
“There were over 30 of our personnel searching for her,” said Santa Monica police Lt. Erika Aklufi. “This included officers, civilian staff, and public service officers. We utilized a drone and a K9 unit. Everyone available was looking for her.”
By 12:37 p.m., officers located the suspect at the Holiday Motel on 11th Street and Pico Boulevard. The motel manager recognized the suspect from the images police had shown and informed them she had been staying there.
Police arrested Breanna Taylor Shields, 31, on kidnapping charges. Due to the young age of the victim, Shields may face additional penalties.
“Our thoughts are with the child and her family as they cope with this traumatic experience,” stated Santa Monica police. “We are committed to supporting them during this difficult time and ensuring a thorough investigation.”