Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Via AP news wire

Joe Montana, wife block attempted kidnapping of grandchild

Photograph: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife confronted a home intruder who attempted to kidnap their 9-month-old grandchild over the weekend, law enforcement officials said on Sunday.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Montana told deputies that his grandchild was sleeping in a playpen on Saturday when an unknown woman entered their home in Malibu and grabbed the child. Montana and his wife, Jennifer, confronted the woman, whom authorities later identified as Sodsai Dalzell, tried to “de-escalate the situation” and asked her to give back their grandchild.

After a tussle, law enforcement officials say Jennifer Montana pried the child out of Dalzell's arms.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out,” the former San Francisco 49ers star wrote on Twitter. “Scary situation, but thankful that everybody is doing well. We appreciate respect for our privacy at this time.”

The sheriff's office says that Dalzell fled the home but was later arrested. She faces kidnapping and burglary charges.

It wasn't immediately known if Dalzell had a lawyer who could speak on her behalf.

The sheriff's office declined to release anymore information, citing that the case was still ongoing.

Montana, 64, retired after the 1994 season, playing 13 years of his 15 year-career with the San Francisco 49ers, which won four Super Bowls with him as starting quarterback.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.