Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) – A Knoxville woman has been charged with kidnapping after allegedly taking a 3-year-old child from a playground at a Knoxville apartment complex, according to an arrest report obtained by WVLT News.
The incident happened at the Big Oak Apartments complex on Middlebrook Pike.
According to the report, officers responded to the scene and attempted to speak with the suspect, identified as Alexis Crespo. Investigators said Crespo refused to provide a statement. However, the child’s mother told officers what happened leading up to the incident.
The report states that Crespo approached the mother while she was at the apartment complex playground and asked to borrow her cell phone.
According to investigators, when the mother attempted to get her phone back, Crespo allegedly tried to avoid her. Police say Crespo then rounded a nearby tree, picked up the 3-year-old child, and refused repeated requests to put the child down.
The report says the mother intervened by grabbing Crespo by the arm and escorting her to the apartment complex office while authorities were contacted.
Officers later took Crespo into custody. She has since been charged with kidnapping.
No injuries were reported during the incident.
Court records were not immediately available detailing whether Crespo remains in custody or has obtained legal representation.
The investigation remains ongoing.
