NFL Great Joe Montana Is Thankful Family Is Safe After Kidnapping Of Grandkid Is Thwarted
MALIBU (CBSLA) — Four-time Superbowl winner Joe Montana and his wife say they successfully thwarted the kidnapping of their 9-month-old grandchild from a Malibu home.
"Thank you to everyone who has reached out," said Montana through Twitter. "Scary situation, but thankful that everybody is doing well."
The incident unfolded around 5 p.m. Saturday in the 22100 block of Pacific Coast Highway.
It was there that authorities say a suspect had entered a home and took a child from the playpen.
From there, the suspect walked upstairs with the child where Montana and his wife confronted her and attempted to de-escalate the situation. A tussle ensued, deputies said, at which point Montana's wife was able to safely pry the child out of the suspect's arms.
The suspect fled to a nearby home where she was arrested after Montana flagged down Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies patrolling the area.
Detectives say there was a struggle and Montana's wife, Jennifer, was able to safely rescue the child from the suspect before she ran away.
39-year-old Sodsai Dalzell, who deputies say is unknown to the Montana family, was booked on suspicion of kidnapping and burglary and is being held on $150,000 bail.
An investigation is underway. Meanwhile, Montana has asked for privacy.
Anyone with information about this incident was asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Malibu/Lost Hills Station (818) 878-1808.