Hoboken Police And SWAT Team Rescue Child And Charge Man

HOBOKEN, NJ — The Hoboken police and the Hudson County Regional SWAT team were able to "recover" a 5-year-old boy and take a 41-year-old man into custody Friday night after worried relatives and friends reached out and said a local family had not been heard from all day, and they were concerned.

Police responded Friday afternoon to a home near Seventh and Garden streets, said Police Chief Ken Ferrante in a press conference after 7 p.m. The area is a quiet residential block in the center of town.

Ferrante said that around 2:30 p.m., officers conducted a wellness check and also alerted the local Mobile Crisis unit, generally a unit from a hospital psychiatric ward. Representatives from the NJ Department of Children Protection and Permanency (formerly DYFS) also were called.

Ferrante said the officers could not get a response from the residence and did not know what they were dealing with, but had some knowledge of a child in the home.

According to a release issued by the Police Department on Friday night, "Negotiators and Hoboken Police Lt. Melissa Gigante were initially unable to make contact with others inside, however, one adult female was safely removed from the house at approximately 3:30 p.m."

The released noted, "At that time, it was unknown what was transpiring inside the building, but it was confirmed that a 5-year-old boy was still inside. The Hudson County Regional SWAT Team was then deployed to the scene as Hoboken PD ESU [Emergency Services Unit] remained around the building."

Ferrante said there was a "long period" of trying to communicate with people inside and determine whether there was danger. Ferrante said that officers were able to finally communicate through doors, windows, and phone calls.

Officers entered the home around 7 p.m. because the situation had gone on for a few hours and because officers didn't know the condition of the child inside, Ferrante said.

A 41-year-old man was removed from the home and will be charged with second degree endangering the welfare of a minor, Ferrante said. The man was taken away in an ambulance with officers. The child did not have to leave in an ambulance, he said.

He would not confirm the relationship between the man and child because of the "delicate situation" and confidentiality, he said, but prior reports had suggested the three people in the home were a family.

Ferrante said he would not classify the situation as a "hostage" situation, but that it was a "potentially dangerous" situation. He said no weapons were involved.

He acknowledged that there had been "calls" to the home before, but wouldn't elaborate.

"We got this 5-year-old out safely and we have someone in custody who was taken into custody safely without an injury," he said.

He added, "There were three people and an animal, and all are safe tonight."

The police press release said the boy is currently with his mother.

Anyone experiencing a domestic crisis can call 911 if in immediate danger. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 800-799-SAFE or contact them via the internet.

Thankful

In the release, Ferrante stated, "I would like to thank the Hoboken Police Department’s School Resource Officers under Lt. Melissa Gigante, and Sgts. Chris LaBruno and David Olivera, the Hoboken Police Dept’s Patrol officers and ESU team under the supervision of Sgt. Luke Zeszotarski, the Hoboken Police Detectives under Capt. Gino Jacobelli, and especially Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez, her staff, and the Hudson County Regional SWAT team for the collaboration today..."

He added that the collaboration "made a highly complicated, concerning and potentially dangerous situation, result in a safe recovery of a 5-year-old boy and successful apprehension of a male, without injury to anyone! The creation of the Hudson County Regional SWAT team by Prosecutor Suarez, once again results in a peaceful and successful ending due to the skills, training and leadership of this team!”

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla stated, “I’m very grateful to all of our law enforcement personnel, including the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and it’s Regional SWAT Team, our Emergency Service Unit, detectives and police officers for going above and beyond responding to the scene of a highly dangerous situation tonight. Thanks to their quick and provisional response, all individuals are physically safe. My thoughts are with the victims of the unfortunate incident.”

Late Thursday, media outlets identified the man as one who had spoken out against masks at a heated Hoboken City Council meeting this past August.

Video of the press conference can be found on Hudson County View.

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