DC woman arrested after trying to kidnap 7-year-old from bus

WASHINGTON — A Northwest, D.C., woman has been arrested following a failed attempt to kidnap a 7-year-old boy off a Metrobus in Northeast, Metro Transit Police said.

Thalia Denise Brown, 39, was cuffed and charged with attempted kidnapping after being stopped by police Wednesday for an unrelated matter.

According to the criminal complaint, at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 30, Brown approached the young boy and said, “Where are your parents?”

The boy told Brown he was on his way to school with his sister.

Brown then allegedly told the victim: “When I get off this bus, you’re coming with me. We going to the feds.” And: “Like I said, he coming with me.”

The children told Brown to get away. Other passengers assisted the children, got them off the bus and helped them onto another bus.

The altercation was reported to officials when the kids arrived at school.

Detectives were able to identify Brown via digital video footage from the Metrobus.

She’s being held pending a court appearance slated for later Thursday.

Will Vitka

William Vitka is a Digital Writer/Editor for WTOP.com. He's been in the news industry for over a decade. Before joining WTOP, he worked for CBS News, Stuff Magazine, The New York Post and wrote a variety of books—about a dozen of them, with more to come.

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