Mother claims 2 fake child protective services agents tried to take her son

A Washington mother claims that a woman and a man posing as child protective services agents tried to snatch her 4-year-old son on Monday.

"Said she was with CPS and that she was there about my son's injuries and that they were to take him into protective custody," Jessi McCombs, of Marysville, told KIRO, adding that her child did not have any wounds.

When McCombs confronted the unidentified woman, the suspect reportedly knew the boy's name and birthday. McCombs said that the woman did all the talking while refusing to provide any identification to prove that she and her male partner — both of whom allegedly dressed professionally — were actual CPS workers.

"These people were potentially trying to just snatch my kid, so I started panicking," McCombs said. "She said, 'We'll come back later,' and they left in a hurry down the stairs."

The pair then purportedly left in a black Ford Crown Victoria after McCombs pretended to call the police.

Marysville police confirmed to the station that they are looking into the matter but admitted Wednesday that they have had difficulty confirming the incident.

"At this time we have noted several inconsistencies in those statements, and have been unable to verify other information," Commander Mark Thomas said in an email to KIRO.

A spokesperson for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families also said that CPS does not have any open cases involving McCombs and her son.

"In situations where a child must be removed from their home, DCYF staff are accompanied by law enforcement," the spokesperson said. "DCYF staff always carry agency identification and cannot remove a child from their home without a court order signed by a judge or by law enforcement taking a child into custody per [the Revised Code of Washington] 26.44.050."

Still, Marysville authorities offered tips to residents, should they encounter fake CPS agents.

"Before allowing any unknown individual into your home, it's always a good idea to check for photo identification," a police department spokesperson told KIRO in an email. "If in doubt, call the office of who they are saying they represent and ask for confirmation. If you're still not satisfied, call 911 or the non-emergency number and ask for an officer to come out and check credentials."