FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2018, file photo, Joe Montana and his wife, left, Jennifer walk onto the field at Levi's Stadium before an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions in Santa Clara, Calif. Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife confronted a home intruder who attempted to kidnap their grandchild over the weekend, law enforcement confirmed on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020.(AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)FILE - In this Dec. 12, 1994, file photo Kansas City Chief's quarterback Joe Montana watches from the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins. Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife confronted a home intruder who attempted to kidnap their grandchild over the weekend, law enforcement confirmed on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Han Deryk, File)FILE - This 1981 file photo shows San Francisco 49ers NFL football quarterback Joe Montana in San Francisco. Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife confronted a home intruder who attempted to kidnap their grandchild over the weekend, law enforcement confirmed on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/File)FILE - In this Oct. 21, 2018, file photo, Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana speaks at a ceremony commemorating "The Catch" to unveil a statues of himself and wide receiver Dwight Clark before an NFL football game between the 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara, Calif. Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife confronted a home intruder who attempted to kidnap their grandchild over the weekend, law enforcement confirmed on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)FILE - In this Oct. 21, 2018., file photo, Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana is seen before an NFL football game between the 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara, Calif. Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife confronted a home intruder who attempted to kidnap their grandchild over the weekend, law enforcement confirmed on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe, File)
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2018, file photo, Joe Montana and his wife, left, Jennifer walk onto the field at Levi's Stadium before an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions in Santa Clara, Calif. Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and his wife confronted a home intruder who attempted to kidnap their grandchild over the weekend, law enforcement confirmed on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020.(AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
LOS ANGELES – 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 confirmed 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.
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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 tweeted. “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.
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