Crossing Guard Saves Little Girl from Would-Be Kidnapper

LOS ANGELES, CA — A little girl is safe at home with her family today thanks to the heroics of an LA city crossing guard who put herself at risk to fight off a would-be kidnapper.

Adrian Young, a school crossing guard in East Hollywood, was honored Wednesday for pulling a little girl from the clutches of a kidnapper. Young, who isn't much taller than the 8-year-old girl she rescued, fought with all her might to save the child outside an East Hollywood elementary school.

"Sometimes superheroes come in small packages," said City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell.

O'Farrell honored Young with flowers and a certificate of appreciation Wednesday, praising her for her quick action she took on Aug. 16 when a woman grabbed an 8-year-old girl outside Alexandria Elementary School.

Young, who has been working as a crossing guard for more than 15 years, said she heard a girl yelling as the woman tried to pull her through the crosswalk at Rosewood and Alexandria avenues.

"She kept saying, 'Please help me miss crossing guard, please help me,"' Young said. "And I told her to hold on to me as tight as she can, do not let go, because both of us (were) very small and the lady was bigger than me."

At less than 5 feet tall, Young held onto the girl, even as the woman began to fight with her. Young managed to punch the woman, who then fled.

Young received a tearful hug from the 8-year-old girl's mother, Sharon Arellano.

"If it (wasn't) for her, I wouldn't know where my daughter would be right now," Arellano told CBS2.

The woman who grabbed the girl was later captured and is being treated at a mental health facility, Channel 2 reported.

City News Service contributed to this report. Photo courtesy of the office of City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell.