TRENTON
– A Galloway Township man has been
charged with kidnapping and attempted murder,
among other offenses, after he allegedly
abducted his infant daughter in East Orange
yesterday. Police received information that
he threw the baby from the Driscoll Bridge
on the Garden State Parkway, said Acting
Attorney General Paula T. Dow.
A
search to locate the missing 3-month old,
Zara Malani-lin Abdur, is continuing in
the area of the bridge over the Raritan
River in Sayreville, according to State
Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes.
The search began last evening.
Criminal
Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor reported
that the father, Shamsiddin Abdur-Raheem,
21, of Galloway Township, has been charged
by the East Orange Police Department with
kidnapping (1st degree), attempted murder
(1st degree), two counts of aggravated assault
(2nd degree), and endangering the welfare
of a child (2nd degree). Abdur-Raheem will
be lodged in the Essex County Jail in lieu
of $700,000 bail. It is anticipated that
he will be arraigned on the charges tomorrow
in Superior Court in Essex County.
The
infant was in the care of her 60-year-old
maternal grandmother in an apartment in
East Orange at the time of the alleged abduction.
The infant’s mother has custody of
the child and obtained a restraining order
against Abdur-Raheem yesterday. Shortly
after 4 p.m. yesterday, Abdur-Raheem allegedly
forced his way into the grandmother’s
apartment, struck the grandmother in the
face and choked her. Abdur-Raheem allegedly
took the infant girl.
The
grandmother followed Abdur-Raheem outside
and got in front of his vehicle, a Dodge
Caravan, in an attempt to stop him. Abdur-Raheem
allegedly attempted to run the grandmother
over, striking her and driving away with
the baby. The attack was reported to the
East Orange Police, who issued a bulletin
to all law enforcement regarding the child.
The grandmother was taken to University
Hospital, where she was treated and later
released.
Abdur-Raheem
was arrested by Winslow Township Police
at a family member’s residence in
Winslow Township after the family member
called police shortly after 8 p.m. last
night to report that Abdur-Raheem was at
the house. After police received information
that Abdur-Raheem allegedly threw the infant
from the bridge, the State Police immediately
commenced a search in the area of the bridge.
Before
his arrest, Abdur-Raheem had gone to see
his Imam, his Islamic religious leader,
in Atlantic City, and the Imam drove him
to the home of the relative who called police.
The
missing infant was reported to be wearing
a pink and gray Carter’s onesie and
may have been wrapped in a blue sleeping
bag. If any member of the public has information
regarding the infant or this case, they
are urged to report it confidentially by
calling the State Police hotline 732-264-4150.
The
ongoing search has included members of the
New Jersey State Police Marine, Aviation
and Canine Units. The water search has involved
two vessels from the State Police Marine
Unit, as well as one boat from each of the
following agencies: Jersey City Police Department,
Union County Police Department, Perth Amboy
Fire Department, Newark Fire Department,
New York City Police Department and U.S.
Coast Guard.
The
investigation has been conducted by the
New Jersey State Police, East Orange Police
Department, Winslow Township Police Department,
Essex County Prosecutor’s Office,
Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office
and Division of Criminal Justice. The case
will be prosecuted by the Division of Criminal
Justice.
The
kidnapping charge carries a maximum sentence
of 30 years in state prison, while the attempted
murder charge carries a maximum sentence
of 20 years in state prison. Second-degree
charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years
in state prison. The charges are merely
accusations and the defendant is presumed
innocent until proven guilty.
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