It took Santa Monica, California police less than one hour to find a 4-year-old girl who was abducted from a Panda Express Friday and arrest a suspect.
Officers found the girl inside a motel room Friday afternoon, and arrested Breanna Taylor Shields, 31.
The kidnapping happened at around 12:11 p.m. as a grandmother and her 4-year-old granddaughter were ordering food at Panda Express restaurant. As the grandmother was busy paying, the young girl was somehow lured away by Shields, police said.
Officers arrived at the scene and gathered images of the suspect from surveillance video. She was described as a heavyset white female in her 30s.
Around 30 officers and civilians began searching the area for Shields. Police said they knew the suspect wouldn’t have gone far because she was traveling on foot.
The suspect, Breanna Taylor Shields, 31, was arrested for allegedly kidnapping a child in Santa Monica on July 12, 2024. (Santa Monica Police Department) 
A young child who was abducted was discovered inside a Santa Monica motel room on July 12, 2024. (TNLA) 
A young child who was abducted was discovered inside a Santa Monica motel room on July 12, 2024. (TNLA) 
The Holiday Motel located at 11th Street and Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica. (Google Earth) 
A young child who was abducted was discovered inside a Santa Monica motel room on July 12, 2024. (TNLA) 
A young child who was abducted was discovered inside a Santa Monica motel room on July 12, 2024. (TNLA) 
The Panda Express restaurant on the 1900 block of Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica where a 4-year-old girl was abducted on July 12, 2024. (KTLA) 
The plaza containing a Panda Express restaurant on the 1900 block of Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica where a 4-year-old girl was abducted on July 12, 2024. (KTLA) 
The Holiday Motel located at 11th Street and Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica. (KTLA) 
A young child who was abducted was discovered inside a Santa Monica motel room on July 12, 2024. (TNLA) 
The plaza containing a Panda Express restaurant on the 1900 block of Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica where a 4-year-old girl was abducted on July 12, 2024. (TNLA
At around 12:37 p.m., officers found the child, unharmed, inside a room at the nearby Holiday Motel. Photos of Shields were shown to the motel manager who confirmed seeing the woman and child.
“This is absolutely one of the most horrifying kinds of calls we get,” said Lt. Erika Aklufi. “The ones that just chill us.”
Authorities said Shields appeared to be living at the motel for an extended period of time. The motive behind the kidnapping and whether the woman has a criminal history remains unclear.
“Our heartfelt best wishes go out to the child and her family as they deal with the shock of this ordeal,” Santa Monica police said. “We will do everything we can to make sure they are helped through this time and also to make sure no stone is left unturned in the investigation.”