Crossing Guard Saves 8-Year-Old From Kidnapping

(CNN)For one little girl, Adrian Young turned out to be more than a crossing guard. Young became her guardian angel.

The crossing guard had just finished her shift at Alexandria Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles when she heard the girl screaming.

"She was like 'Please don't let her take me. I don't know her. She's not my mom,'" Young told CNN affiliate KABC.

"I kind of went into mother mode ... because I couldn't see myself letting this little girl be taken. I'm just grateful I was there."

At a public event last week, Los Angeles City Council Member Mitch O'Farrell honored Young for her heroism.

"Sometimes superheroes come in small packages," O'Farrell said, referring to Young's height. "And because of her diligence, training and awareness and just because she cares so much about children, she prevented what could have been a kidnapping of a child."

Police were able to find the suspect after Jones and the 8-year-old rendered a description.

The woman, 50-year-old Maria Ramirez, was charged with one count of felony kidnapping.