Woman Tries To Abduct Baby, Harasses Family In Santa Rosa: Police

SANTA ROSA, CA — A woman was arrested Tuesday after police said she tried to take a baby from a stroller during a frightening encounter with a mother and her two young children in downtown Santa Rosa.

The incident happened Monday morning near the 700 block of Seventh Street, when an unknown woman approached the family, prevented them from leaving and repeatedly demanded access to the 10-month-old infant, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department.

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The suspect said she was going to take the baby, then reached into the stroller, grabbed at the infant and pulled on the stroller, police said. The mother called for help, and a passing motorist stopped to assist. The suspect fled before officers arrived.

Neither child was physically injured, but police said the incident was traumatic for the family.

Detectives with the department's Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Team investigated the case and circulated an image of a person of interest to patrol officers on Tuesday. At about 1:10 p.m. on Tuesday, an officer with the Downtown Enforcement Team contacted a woman matching the image near Second and D streets. Detectives identified her as the suspect, police said.

Ana Taylor was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility on suspicion of attempted kidnapping, child endangerment and violating pretrial release conditions, police said.

During the investigation, detectives also learned that after the encounter involving the children, the same suspect approached a woman walking her dog on Slater Street, challenged her without provocation and followed her, police said.

"This was a deeply troubling incident that understandably caused significant fear and emotional trauma for the victim and her family," Police Chief John Cregan said. He said he had reached out to the victim and her husband to express concern and emphasized the department's commitment to investigating such crimes and holding offenders accountable.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the department's Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Team at 707-543-3595.