A father from Portland, Oregon, said a half-naked woman apparently dealing with a mental health crisis grabbed his daughter at a playground and began running away with her before he caught the woman from behind.

Scott Mares said he was at Couch Park recently when the woman, wearing only a T-shirt, walked onto the playground and began using the jungle gym.

“So I called 911, because it’s totally inappropriate to have a half-naked woman climbing on a structure, doing flips, falling down, all sorts of stuff with kids,” Mr. Mares told local NBC affiliate KGW on Friday.

While on the phone with dispatchers, Mr. Mares said he saw his 7-year-old daughter and the woman go down a slide together.

Mr. Mares said the woman grabbed his daughter and tried to run off with her as soon as they reached the bottom.

“The woman literally got five steps before I grabbed the back of her head by her ponytail, put her down on the ground, and got my daughter and got her out of there,” the father told the station.

Police told local media that the woman was having a mental health crisis. She was taken to the hospital while in police custody.

KGW reported that neighbors have complained about illegal camping and drug use at Couch Park. Police were called last month to deal with a machete-wielding man who was threatening adults and children.   

“Had this been an adult male on crack with a weapon, this could have been totally a different outcome,” Mr. Mares told the station.

• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.