New Jersey police officer caught baby thrown from balcony, officials say

Lauren Cook/WPIX

Updated: Sep 20, 2021 / 05:50 AM CDT

Jersey City Police Officer Eduardo Matute holds a baby he saved after the infant was thrown from a balcony on Sept. 18, 2021, officials said. (Credit: Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office)

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (WPIX) — A New Jersey police officer safely caught a 1-month-old baby dropped off a second-floor balcony over the weekend, authorities said.

Officer Eduardo Matute was among several law enforcement officials who responded to the scene Saturday after someone called police and reported a child was in danger.

Upon arrival, they encountered a man who was dangling the 1-month-old baby from a second-story balcony and threatening to drop the infant, officials said.

Police set up a perimeter and several officers positioned themselves below the balcony as the man continued to threaten to throw the baby over the railing, according to officials.

After a lengthy standoff, officials said, the man dropped the infant and Matute and other officers caught the child.

The baby was taken to a hospital for evaluation but was unharmed, according to officials.

Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop praised the officers on social media Saturday evening.

“We are lucky to have the men and woman of the JCPD, as every single day I see it firsthand they rise to meet any/all challenges,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

The man was arrested and faces charges, officials said.