From The Star Ledger:
A 26-year-old mother was arrested and her children put in protective custody after a 911 call about a child being assaulted brought officers to the woman's Elm Street apartment, police said yesterday.About 10 p.m. Saturday, three officers arrived to find an 8-year-old boy holding a towel with ice to his forehead, police said. The boy, accompanied in the bedroom by his 3-year-old sister, said he hit his head after being pushed by a friend whose name he could not recall at Glenfield Park, authorities said.
Police said they also observed a large bruise on the boy's neck and throat.
Later, when the children were taken to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson, the boy said his mother hit him with a belt and struck him in the forehead with a Monopoly game board after she couldn't find her car keys to go out that night, police said. The girl also was struck with a belt, police said.
Montclair PD charged the mother with two counts each of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a minor.
Also on Saturday night, police responded to reports of a street fight, they found a screaming 17-year old Bloomfield girl bruised, bloody, and in ripped clothing.
The girl, who was found standing on the sidewalk, said she was in a fight and her attackers fled west on Irving Street toward Orange Road about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, police said.The teen said she had been driving with friends on Broad Street in Bloomfield when a car occupied by males pulled up alongside and said, "Follow us to the party," police said.
When they arrived near the corner, a group of girls taunted them and the victim was jumped when she got out of the car, police said. When her boyfriend came to her defense, he also was jumped and struck in the left eye by a male, police said.
26-year-old mother, eight-year-old son.
And where is the father?
Well, at least our town is diverse. We have competent parents as well as other kinds. And we can't judge.