GARDEN GROVE – A woman suspected of trying to kidnap a newborn while posing as a hospital employee was arrested Monday after police say she was caught trying to carry off the infant in a tote bag.

Officers on Monday morning responded to reports of a kidnapping at the Garden Grove Medical Center in the 12600 block of Garden Grove Boulevard.

Investigators believe that while wearing hospital scrubs and posing as an employee of the medical center, a woman entered a hospital room where a mother and her newborn infant were lying in bed, Lt. Jeff Nightengale said.

Police allege the woman distracted the mother’s attention from the infant and then placed the newborn in a large tote bag.

“She came into the room and told the mother that the doctor wanted to see her, so why doesn’t she take a shower,” Nightengale said.

While the mother was in the shower, police say the woman walked out of the hospital room with the newborn in the bag.

An electronic monitor on the baby alerted staff to the alleged abduction, Nightengale said, and they were able to stop the woman and return the newborn to her mother.

The woman, who police have identified as Grisel Ramirez, 48, of Garden Grove, was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping.

Ramirez was not cooperative with investigators, giving them “several different stories” and fake names, Nightengale said.

Police are looking into the possibility that Ramirez may have “attempted something like this before,” Nightengale said.

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