Santa Rosa Woman Arrested for Alleged Kidnapping, Burglary in Bizarre Incident
SANTA ROSA, CA — “On July 18, 2026, at approximately 6:41 p.m., Santa Rosa Police officers responded to a residence in the 1500 block of Colgan Creek Drive regarding a report of a suspicious circumstance.
According to the preliminary investigation, an adult female who was unknown to the family, entered the residence and grabbed a young child, lifting him under his arms and carrying him upstairs to a kitchen and family room area. Once upstairs, the child moved away from the female. The female then entered a bathroom and rummaged through drawers before wandering back out, at which point she fled the residence on foot. Based on statements, the child was out of his mother’s sight for approximately 30 seconds. No physical injuries to the child or family were reported.
Officers conducted an area check and located an individual matching the description in the area of Hearn Avenue and Dutton Meadow. During the contact, the individual struck an officer in the head with a water bottle and was taken into custody. The officer was not seriously injured.
The victim positively identified the individual during an in-field identification. The arrested person was identified as Nyla Cristina Ponce, 23, a Santa Rosa resident, who was subsequently booked into the Sonoma County Jail on the following charges:
PC 207 – Kidnapping
PC 459 – Burglary
PC 273a – Child Endangerment
Officers also obtained a bail enhancement due to the seriousness of this case.
The motive for the incident remains unknown at this time, and the matter remains under active investigation. There is no known ongoing threat to the community associated with this event.
To protect the privacy of those affected, the identities of the child and family are not being released. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Santa Rosa Police Department at 707-528-5222.”
