Suspect arrested for attempted kidnapping aboard bus

Metro Transit Police today announced the arrest of Thalia Denise Brown, 39, of Northwest D.C., on a charge of attempted kidnapping following an incident that occurred August 30, 2017, aboard a Metrobus in Northeast.

Brown was stopped by police yesterday on an unrelated matter and subsequently arrested on a warrant that had been obtained by Metro Transit Police.

The criminal complaint alleges that at approximately 8:30 a.m. August 30, Brown approached the 7-year-old victim who was traveling to school with his sister. The suspect asked, "Where are your parents?" The victim stated that he was traveling with his sister, at which point, the suspect told the victim, "When I get off this bus, you're coming with me. We going to the feds." Subsequently, the suspect told the older sibling, "Like I said, he coming with me."

The children told the suspect to get away from them. Other passengers intervened, assisted them off bus and placed them on another bus.

The incident was reported to school administrators upon the victim's arrival at school.

MTPD detectives were able to retrieve digital video from aboard the bus to identify Brown.

Brown is currently being held pending a court appearance later today.