Ohio Police: Bad Santa Tried to Kidnap Girl

Published January 14, 2015

Mugshot of suspect Anthony Russo. (Parma Police Department)

This "Santa" will be getting coal in his stocking for Christmas.

Ohio police arrested a man dressed as jolly old St. Nick after he allegedly twice grabbed a 12-year-old girl by the arm in an apparent attempted kidnapping, according to Fox8.com.

Authorities in Parma, Ohio, say 46-year-old Anthony Russo was hiding in some bushes when he ordered the girl to come to him.

The girl told police she was walking to school when Russo-as-Santa-Claus grabbed her arm, Fox8.com reported. After she wriggled free, she said, he pulled her toward him again.

The child then ran into a store and told the owner what happened, the site said.

Russo was eventually arrested carrying a red sack filled with candy canes after a brief fight with police, according to Fox8.com.