A woman has been arrested on suspicion of trying to kidnap a newborn in Santa Ana while posting as a social worker, police said Saturday.
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A woman being sought after allegedly posing as a social work in a kidnapping attempt in Santa Ana is seen in a still from a video released by Santa Ana police on June 7, 2019.
The woman was described by police as a person of interest in the kidnapping after she turned herself in following the release of video Friday.
She allegedly told the infant’s mother she needed to take him into custody after arriving to the family’s home along Evergreen Street, according to police. The mother ultimately refused and her sisters filmed some video of the suspect as she walked away.
The attempted abduction was reported about 11:30 a.m.
Police have said the 38-year-old suspected kidnapper’s name will not be released.
Santa Ana Police Department detectives are now working with investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department on "possibly related investigations," police said. But no other details were given.
The baby was born May 31 and his mother was immediately suspicious when the woman arrived at her door and identified herself as a social worker named "Mayela Ortega," according to authorities. She refused to hand over her son when the suspect was unable to give details confirming her identity.
"I told her if the sheriff comes and he has to arrest me, then he can arrest me. But I am not going to give you my child," said the mother, who wishes to remain anonymous.