Authorities scale back search for baby believed to have been tossed into NJ river by father

Search is scaled back for baby thrown in NJ river

NEWARK, N.J. — State police have scaled back a search for a 3-month-old girl believed to have been thrown off a bridge into a New Jersey river by her father.

State Police Sgt. Julian Castellanos said Friday evening that marine police and state police units will continue looking during their regular patrols, placing emphasis on areas where the child may be, but a more widespread effort has been halted.

Police say 21-year-old Shamsid-Din Abdur-Raheem of Galloway told them he threw his daughter, Zara Malani-lin Abdur, off a Garden State Parkway bridge Tuesday.

Abdur-Raheem has pleaded not guilty to charges including the attempted murder of the child’s maternal grandmother whom police say he assaulted during the alleged abduction.

The child’s mother had sought a restraining order against him.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — State police in New Jersey are scaling back the search for a 3-month-old girl believed to have been thrown off a bridge by her father.

State police Sgt. Stephen Jones says units that were using side-scanning sonar in the Raritan River are wrapping up. He says the search will continue until dark Friday and then will be reassessed.

Police say 21-year-old Shamsid-Din Abdur-Raheem, of Galloway, told them he threw his daughter, Zara Malani-lin Abdur, off a Garden State Parkway bridge on Tuesday.

Abdur-Raheem has pleaded not guilty to charges including the attempted murder of the child’s maternal grandmother, whom police say he assaulted during the alleged abduction. The child’s mother had sought a restraining order against him.