Police in Florida have arrested a woman for literally, if briefly, kidnapping a toddler from a yard last month.
Broward County authorities initially charged Pamela Monslave, 39, with one count of confining a child under the age of 13 without a parent’s consent.
Later, a judge determined that there was probable cause to charge someone with kidnapping.
Her arrest’s body-worn camera footage is now available.
The incident took place on November 25 in Hallandale Beach, a medium-sized city on the coast.
The defendant allegedly picked up the boy and left with him. She allegedly set the child back down after two witnesses informed his mother, who was inside the house at the time, of what had happened to her son.
According to a courtroom report by Miami-based Fox affiliate WSVN, “I can’t imagine what act can cause more extreme fear and distress in a parent than having somebody, not knowing who, go into their property, their fenced-in property, and removing their 3-year-old child,” a prosecutor told a judge at a bond hearing.
NBC affiliate WTVJ in Miami reports that a judge ordered the defendant’s detention without bond at the end of the hearing.
The Hallandale Beach Police Department provided footage of Monslave’s arrest, which WSVN published this week.
The video captures her saying, “He was outside.” “He was naked.” He was like—with a shirt. Everything was naked, and I asked the people around me to call the police, but no one did. When I asked the little boy, “Where’s your mother?,” he refused to answer.
An officer asked, “So where’s the little boy now?” in response to the explanation.
In response, Monslave said, “Well, they were—I got the little boy, and everybody was like, ‘Don’t get the little boy,’ and I’m like, ‘I gave it back to the mom.'”
Later, when questioned about the child’s original location, the woman displays a look of confusion.
An officer inquires, “Where’s the playground?”
Monslave follows up: “Near the—outside the—outside the—when the mom came out, I gave it back.”
According to police, the defendant and the toddler’s family did not have a prior relationship.
“Make sure you pay attention to your kids, your surroundings, and that you know your neighbors and they know you,” Hallandale Beach Police Capt. Megan Jones said in a statement.
“This incident serves as a prime example of ‘know thy neighbor,’ as those neighbors successfully prevented the permanent removal of this child.”
The Broward County Jail holds slaves without bond.
