WOMAN, 21, ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING OF INFANT IN SANTEE

November 21, 2023 (Santee) -- A woman has been arrested in connection with the attempted kidnapping of a child in Santee.

On Monday, November 20 just before 6 p.m., a woman tried to remove a one-year-old child from a shopping cart in the 100 block of Town Center Parkway. The suspect was not successful, since the child was secured in the cart with a lap belt. She then took off on foot heading south toward Mission Gorge Road. Despite a thorough search of the area by Sheriff's Deputies and a Sheriff's ASTREA helicopter, the suspect was not located.

Detectives from the Santee Sheriff's Station immediately began investigating the incident. On Tuesday, November 21 around 7:30 p.m., detectives arrested Isela Ortega, 21,  in the 400 block of Orsett Street in Chula Vista.

She is facing a charge of attempted kidnapping and will be booked into the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility.

“The San Diego County Sheriff's Department and the Santee Sheriff's Station would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance and cooperation,” says Lieutenant Chris Galve.