QB hero’s ‘kidnap’ intercept
Montana saves baby
He really is Joe Cool. Legendary former NFL quarterback Joe Montana helped foil an attempted kidnapping of his baby grandchild at his home in Malibu, Calif., authorities said Sunday.
The Hall of Fame 49er, 64, told cops that his 9-month-old grandchild was sleeping in a playpen in the living room of his home when a woman — later identified by authorities as Sodsai Dalzell — slipped into the house and grabbed the baby just before 5 p.m. Saturday, officials said.
Dalzell, who had allegedly sneaked into the home through an unlocked door, then carried the baby upstairs to where Montana (inset) and his wife, Jennifer, were, according to authorities.
Montana — a four-time Super Bowl champion who earned his nickname for keeping cool under pressure on the football field — and his wife tried to “de-escalate the situation and asked for the suspect to give back their grandchild,” the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said.
“A tussle ensued, and Mrs. Montana was able to safely pry the child out of the suspect’s arms” before Dalzell fled, cops said.
Montana then ran out of the home and flagged down sheriff ’s deputies who were in the area on an unrelated matter and told them what happened, authorities said.
Dalzell, who allegedly fled to a nearby home, was soon captured and arrested.
She has been charged with kidnapping and burglary and was being held on $150,000 bail, according to authorities and reports.
Montana issued a brief statement on the scary showdown over Instagram.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out,” he wrote.
“Scary situation, but thankful that everybody is doing well. We appreciate respect for our privacy at this time.”
He and Jennifer, who married in 1985, have two adult sons and two adult daughters.
The couple founded the Four Rings Montana Family Foundation, which is named in honor of their four children — and Montana’s four Super Bowl rings.
The nonprofit raises money through sales from Jennifer’s jewelry line for needy families in the Bay Area.