Woman tried to rip girl from her mom's grip because she was 'jealous' of them on Mother's Day, police say

A woman tried to separate a mother and her 6-year-old daughter who were walking hand-in-hand along a sidewalk in Daytona Beach because she was sad that it was Mother's Day and was "very jealous" of them, Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said Wednesday during a press conference.

He said the woman, identified as 30-year-old Salimah McCann, has a history of mental illness, reportedly lost custody of her own child, and is a military vet, adding that detectives are recommending charges of attempted kidnapping and battery.

She admitted she was depressed as a result of it being Mother's Day," Young said. "So seeing this mother and daughter walking together made her very jealous."

Watch the press conference

"What she wanted to do was basically separate the two of them," he said, noting that she said she did not intend to ever kidnap the girl.

The incident happened last Sunday.

"I was walking with my mom taking pictures and then a girl came…and was like punching my mom's hand," the girl told FOX 35 on Monday. At first, the girl wasn't sure if the woman was coming for her or for her tooth, which fell out moments before, she said.

Police said the girl and her mom fought back and that McCann then ran to a nearby apartment. Both the girl and her mom were OK, authorities said.

"The offender tried to karate chop them while they were holding hands. She fell down," her dad said. "Thankfully she got up, and she was able to scream and kick at the offender."

After her arrest, Grainger said he was ecstatic.

The woman is being held at the Volusia County Jail on no bond.