Social worker charged with trying to abduct baby from stroller in Long Beach, scuffling with great-grandfather

A licensed clinical social worker attempted to abduct an infant from her stroller Monday afternoon in Long Beach while insisting falsely that the child was hers before she was tackled by the baby's 80-year-old great-grandfather and arrested, officials said.

The confrontation began at the intersection of Laurelton Boulevard and West Penn Street at 12:19 p.m. when Heather Magone, 40, of Long Beach, approached the great-grandfather, who was on a walk with the 14-month-old, according to Long Beach City police and the baby's father, who asked that the family's names not be published to protect their privacy.

Magone had been walking a dog — barefoot, according to the baby's father — before she approached the stroller, started unbuckling the safety straps and attempted to take the baby, police said.

"This is my child. I have a license," Magone told the great-grandfather, according to criminal charging documents.

Magone, police and the father said, has no relationship to the child.

The great-grandfather was able to wrestle Magone to the ground, but she scratched, bit and assaulted the elderly man, police said.

During the struggle, Magone grabbed the stroller, which overturned with the baby remaining strapped inside, police said.

The great-grandfather maintained his grip on the stroller until Long Beach City police, who received multiple calls about the incident, arrived on the scene one minute later and arrested Magone, authorities said.

The child's father, who lives in Long Beach, said he and his partner arrived at the scene to find Magone handcuffed and the great-grandfather "with blood dripping from his face."

"This man was able to protect his great-granddaughter from a violent attempted abduction, but also had the situational awareness to hold onto the stroller with his other hand," Long Beach Police Deputy Inspector Stefan Chernaski said.

The child was not hurt in the altercation. The great-grandfather suffered minor scratches and bruises but declined to be seen by paramedics, according to the child's father.

"She's happy now," he said of his daughter. "Totally normal."

Magone was charged with second-degree kidnapping, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

She was arraigned Tuesday in Long Beach City Court and held on $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond bail. 

Lloyd Nadel, Magone's Mineola-based defense attorney, said his client insists she was the one who was attacked.

"She was assaulted and there was never any intention to harm the baby, or take the baby or kidnap the baby," Nadel said. "It was just an altercation that, I guess, got out of hand a little. We're waiting to see if there's any video from the scene, which would clarify how things worked out."

Nadel said his client has not been previously arrested and is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist with a practice in Long Beach.

Magone is due back in court Wednesday.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.