Murphy Commended The JCPD Officer Who Caught A Baby Thrown From A Balcony

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Governor Phil Murphy took time during his daily COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday to commend the Jersey City police officer who saved an infant that was thrown from a second-story balcony.

Gov. Murphy thanked all the Jersey City Police Department officers involved in the situation, but gave an individual thank-you to Officer Eduardo Matute.

"A special kudos is due to Officer Matute for his quick and sure hands that saved the life of that precious child," Murphy said during the meeting.

On Saturday morning, Officer Eduardo Matute was among several Jersey City police officers who responded to a call of a man dangling a baby off a second-floor balcony on Rose Avenue. Matute caught the baby when he was dropped from the balcony, and the man involved was arrested quickly after. The man was charged with attempted murder and endangering the welfare of a child.

The baby, who is a month-old, was unharmed and brought to the hospital to be checked out. Officer Matute was able to check in on the baby at the hospital for a quick reunion before the baby was sent home with his mother.

Gov. Murphy shared a photo of the reunion in his thank-you tweet on Wednesday.