Woman Arrested After Kidnapping Attempt At Santee Town Center

SANTEE, CA — A woman accused of attempting to kidnap a 1-year-old in Santee was arrested Tuesday evening, authorities said.

Isela Ortega, 31, tried to take the child from a shopping cart shortly before 6 p.m. Monday at Santee Town Center, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

"The suspect attempted to take the child from the cart several times," sheriff's Lt. Chris Galve said. "However, the child was safely secured with a lap belt."

Ortega ran away, heading south toward Mission Gorge Road, when the child's parents called 911, Galve said.

Detectives from the Santee Sheriff's Station investigated the attempted kidnapping and identified Ortega as a suspect. She was arrested around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 400 block of Orsett Street in Chula Vista, Galve said.

Ortgea was arrested and booked into Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility on suspicion of attempted kidnapping.