Nashua Father Charged with Endangering Daughter Disputes Officer's Claims

NASHUA, NH — A Nashua man charged with endangering his daughter refuted a police officer’s claims about his actions.

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Matthew Jordan, 32, was arrested in Manchester Monday after police said he put his 21-month-old daughter in danger for a photo near the swift-moving Merrimack River.

“The officer observed Jordan release his grip while he proceeded to photograph the toddler as she stood on the opposite side of the safety fence, approximately 20 feet above the swift moving river,” police said in a statement. “The little girl was holding on to the fence without assistance from her father. The officer was extremely concerned for the toddler’s safety and yelled for Jordan to take hold of the child and pull her over the railing on the proper side of the fence.”

Jordan was charged with two counts of reckless conduct.

During his arraignment, he denied the officer’s claims he put his daughter in danger.

“Somebody out of context thought that they had seen her go over the railing,” Jordan said, according to WMUR. “I love (my daughter) with all my heart.”

Police said Jordan has an extensive criminal history, WMUR reported.