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Victor Maccharoli- Police cars park out front of Cottage Hospital where a newborn baby was taken Friday.

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Woman arrested in abduction

By COLBY FRAZIER — Feb. 28, 2009

Three hours after a 5-hour-old baby boy was abducted from his mother’s bedroom at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, authorities yesterday arrested a suspect in Santa Maria and recovered the child, who was reportedly unharmed.

A Santa Barbara Police Department spokesperson said the suspect, 33-year-old Leianna Patricia Arzate, entered the hospital’s third-floor maternity ward just before 12:45 p.m. Authorities said the woman was dressed in pink hospital scrubs.

Hospital spokesperson Janet O’Neill said she does not believe Arzate is a hospital employee.

She said the child, whose name is Julian, was in the mother’s room at the time of the abduction, but other details surrounding the kidnapping remained sketchy yesterday afternoon.

To her knowledge, O’Neill said no child has ever been kidnapped from the hospital in its 121-year history. According to the hospital’s Web site, 2,800 children are birthed there annually.

The hospital’s security system includes electronic monitoring bracelets worn by babies and their mothers. O’Neill, citing security concerns, didn’t elaborate on the facility’s security system, saying only that an alarm is tied to the bracelets, and when a child is moved from the third floor, it is tripped.

Police Sgt. Mitch Jan said hospital officials told police a “portable” baby alarm was activated, which indicated abduction had taken place.

“Within minutes, several officers responded to the hospital and set up a perimeter, along with Cottage Hospital staff, who had put the facility in lock-down,” he said.

According to O’Neill, the exact location of the lapse in the hospital’s security system hasn’t been identified.

“Something obviously went wrong,” she said. “We’re collaborating with the police department as they continue the investigation. We’re obviously taking this extremely serious.”

An Amber Alert warning was issued just after 1 p.m., and the hospital was taken off lock-down at 2:15 p.m.

Police officials said it remains unclear if Arzate knows the child’s parents, or any of the baby’s relatives. As of last night, officials had not determined if additional suspects exist.

O’Neill said the abduction appears to be “random.”

“It does seem to be a stranger who came in,” she said.

Jan said a hospital employee identified Arzate as the suspect. He said the investigation revealed that the woman left the area with the child in a blue, Chevrolet Impala.

Initial media reports said witnesses saw the suspect with the seven-pound, 20-inch child at Oak Park, though as of press time last night, this sighting couldn’t be confirmed.

Detectives traced Arzate to a residence in Santa Maria, where with the help of that city’s police force, the woman was taken into custody at 3:30 p.m.

A statement on the hospital’s Web site called the incident a “breach” of its security, and promised a thorough investigation.

The statement said hospital officials have been in contact with parents of newborns at the hospital and parents-to-be in an “effort to provide as much comfort and assurance as possible.”

“We’re all happy that it’s ended this way,” O’Neill said. “But still, it shouldn’t have happened and we want to make sure it never happens again.”

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dum dum hater!!! : 2/28/2009

Excellent job SBPD!!!

dum dum hater!!!!

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: 2/28/2009

Anyone notice that almost all of the crime that occurs these days is by Hispanics???????

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: 2/28/2009

THAT IS NOT TRUE CRIME IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT HISPANIS!!!

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: 2/28/2009

sure seems that way- read the names of those arrested- what do u notice?

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: 3/1/2009

Sad Sad situation. Leianna is a troubled girl with a disturbing past. Especially the last few years. Now maybe she will get the help she has for so long needed. Thank God no harm came to the innocent infant.

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You people are Pathetic!! : 3/1/2009

It's quite sad that all those that make "hispanic" comments are all to cowardly to include their names. If your going to comment on something that you feel so strongly about, let yourself be known. It is very true that most major sadistic crimes are commited by white americans, not Mexican Americans. How about we focus on the fact that an infant was abducted and thankfully was returned safely to his parents. God bless baby Julian

Tina

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retards : 3/2/2009

not that this crime has anything to do with hispanics. however, you are living with your head in the sand if you think a large majority of the crimes committed in in California are not by hispanics. hispanics make up about 45% of the population of California. yet they amount for almost 65% of the crimes committed. get a clue. I am glad this baby was found unharmed. lock this crazy broad up forever. Jason Marquez (is my name clear enough for you?)

KJEEsucks

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Get you Facts! : 3/4/2009

Leianna is not hispanic, she is Hawaiian/Somoan. She married a Hispanic. Who cares what race she was anyways. Why does eveyone have to throw the race card in. Thank God that baby is safe at home with his family.

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Jason Marquez : 3/5/2009

Did not realize the MARQUEZ is actually spanish, or do you like to pronounce it MARCUS

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: 3/5/2009

Well, if you're going to get technical about it, the accused's mother is half-hispanic from an old California Spanish family. It doesn't matter anyway. She is troubled, needs help and she has a family that will see her through this. The majority of native Santa Barbarans all have SOME hispanic (Spanish/Mexican) ancestry, so it's all relative that "almost all of the crime tha occurs these days is by hispanics".

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