It happened around two o'clock Friday morning at the Covington Creek Apartment Complex in Merced.
The grandfather of the four-year-old boy didn't want to be identified, but says his grandson is still struggling with what happened.
"He has autism, so he's on medication and everything, so he stresses out real easy," said the grandfather of the boy.
He told us the boy must have woken up in the middle of the night and went to sleep on the couch in the living room with their dog, Daisy. He's grateful Daisy alerted the boy's mother when Felicia Long allegedly broke in.
"The dog doesn't really bark that much, she was just in defense mode," said the grandfather.
Police said the mother caught Long carrying her son out her front door and tried to stop her. Long apparently threw the boy down and kicked him. They said the mother was also hit several times in the head and face.
"She tried to stop her and of course she was slapped, kicked and hit by the suspect, " said Lt. Tom Trindad with the Merced Police Department.
The grandfather says Daisy bit the attacker and shows us traces of blood in front of the doorway. Police believe Long lives at the complex. They said she got into a fight with her boyfriend early Friday morning and then went around breaking in and smashing windows.
One of the neighbors said he was even awake when it happened. He was in the kitchen making a late dinner when he heard his window smash.
"I've been here for like seven months and it's kind of scary, but I guess I'll just pull through," said neighbor, Leonel Mendoza.
Police aren't sure if Long was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. She is being charged with Kidnapping, Residential Burglary, Aggravated Assault, Child Abuse and Vandalism.
The grandfather is grateful his daughter and grandson made it out with minor injuries.
"My grandson's more frightened now than anything with what's going on," said the grandfather.