SYRACUSE, NY – Police officers in Syracuse are being hailed as heroes after rescuing a baby held at knifepoint by her own father on Wednesday.
Police said Alexander Ortiz, 33, was contacted by police inside his home in the 100 block of East Brighton Avenue after receiving reports of a physical domestic complaint.
“Upon arrival, officers located a female victim, who stated that her child’s father had assaulted her,” the Syracuse Police Department said in a statement on Thursday. “At that time, information was learned that the child’s father, Alexander Ortiz, 33, of Syracuse, was inside the residence with an infant child and armed with a knife.”
Officers entered the home and located Ortiz in the dining room near a bedroom in the rear of the house.
He was observedOrtiz was holding his infant child in his left hand and a large kitchen knife in his right hand.
“Despite several commands from police officers, Ortiz refused to drop the knife or release the child and stated numerous times that police officers would have to kill him,” police said. “Eventually, the officers convinced Ortiz to release the infant child, which he did, and then proceeded to retreat into a bedroom with the knife and shut the door.”
The baby was evaluated by police and EMS at the scene and found to be unharmed.
Ortiz was arrested and taken into custody.
Officers exited the residence with the infant child and facilitated a medical evaluation.
He was charged with Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree, Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Harassment in the Second Degree.