El Patron Mexican Restaurant in Jersey City isn’t a police station, fire station, or hospital, but it was a safe haven for a 14-year-old girl in need.
The teen, who was holding a newborn infant wrapped in a towel and approached restaurant owner Frankie Aguilar hurriedly Wednesday afternoon, was captured on tape.
“This girl comes in asking for help,” he said. “Really, like desperate eyes, asking ‘somebody,’ like, pleading, ‘can you help me?’ She was asking for the firefighters. It was a very dangerous situation.”
The infant was rushed to Jersey City Medical Center by ambulance and was found to be in good health.
The teenager was quickly apprehended by police, who later confirmed she was the baby’s mother. She was also rushed to the hospital. There are no charges pending against her.
As a reminder, New Jersey has a safe haven statute that allows parents with babies 30 days or younger to take them to a fire station, police station, or hospital without being asked any questions or facing any criminal charges.
