Kidnapping Suspect Arrested NR24078dc

Los Angeles:  The Los Angeles Police Department’s Olympic Division detectives announce the arrest of a suspect who attempted to kidnap a 4-year-old boy.

On February 25, 2024, around 12:40 p.m., Olympic Area officers responded to a kidnap investigation in the 600 block of South Virgil Avenue. The suspect grabbed a 4-year-old victim from behind and carried him out of the location. The suspect put the child down after the parents of the victim confronted her outside. The suspect was not known to the family.

On February 28, 2024, around 11:50 a.m., North Hollywood Area officers responded to the area of Magnolia Boulevard and Tujunga Avenue after a person reported seeing the suspect from the incident on February 25th. Officers located and took the suspect into custody.

The suspect in this incident has been identified as 27-year-old Vanessa Yara Pineda, a resident of Los Angeles. She was arrested and booked by LAPD Olympic detectives for 207(A) PC – Kidnapping; Booking No. 6767745. Her bail was set at $1,250,000.00.

Anyone with additional information on this crime is urged to call Olympic Robbery Detectives at (323) 382-9460. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.  Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P-3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.