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TagsThe child's father, Shamsiddi Abdur-Raheem, charged with kidnapping, attempted murder
UPDATED
A Galloway Township man who is suspected of throwing his infant daughter from the Driscoll Bridge on the Garden State Parkway, was charged Wednesday with kidnapping and attempted murder, among other offenses.
Police received information that he threw the baby from the bridge after abducting her from her East Orange home Tuesday, said state 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 Tuesday evening.
Shamsiddi Abdur-Raheem, 21, has been charged by the East Orange police with kidnapping, attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. Abdur-Raheem is being held in the Essex County Jail in lieu of $700,000 bail. It is anticipated that he will be arraigned on the charges Thursday in state Superior Court in Newark.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 Tuesday. Shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday, Abdur-Raheem allegedly forced his way into the grandmother’s apartment, struck the woman in the face and choked her. Abdur-Raheem then 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 woman 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 in Newark where she was treated and later released.
Abdur-Raheem was arrested by Winslow Township police at a family member’s residence after a family member called police shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday 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 span.
Before his arrest, Abdur-Raheem had gone to see his Imam, an 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, they are urged to report it confidentially by calling the State Police hotline 732-264-4150.
The ongoing search has included members of the State Police Marine, Aviation and
Canine units. The water search has involved two vessels from the Marine Unit, as well as one boat from each of the following agencies: the Jersey City police, the Union County police, the Perth Amboy Fire Department, the Newark Fire Department, the New York City police and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The investigation has been conducted by the State Police, East Orange police, Winslow police, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and state 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.
