Security Questioned After Police Arrest Mother For Stabbing Baby At Social Services Building
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A baby was stabbed multiple times by her own mother, and it all happened inside a government building. Now that baby is in the hospital and the mother is in police custody.
Monique Griego has more on the security breach.
The stabbing happened Tuesday around 10 a.m. inside the city's Social Services office, a place where parents are allowed to visit the children they've had taken away from them. Now questions loom about how a knife got through security.
Police say a mother made it inside Social Services carrying a knife.
"How she got past with that---it's kind of weird. It's crazy," said neighbor Michelle Mitchell.
"That's a public place and every other child in there could be in danger around her," said neighbor Tamika Love.
She was inside a room with her 8-month-old baby girl and a social worker when police say she attacked her own child.
"At some point, the mother became irate, pulled out a long kitchen knife and began stabbing the baby," said Donny Moses, Baltimore Police.
The baby was struck multiple times in the neck and head. She was taken to Johns Hopkins Children's Center in critical but stable condition.
"As a mom, I'm appalled that something like this could happen. It's something you don't even want to think is possible," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
The attack is now raising questions about security. Anyone entering this facility is required to show ID, pass through a metal detector and have their bags searched by security. But police say the suspect had the knife in her bag and no identification.
The union representing workers tells WJZ they've complained repeatedly about lax security.
"As a result of this horrible experience, we can see that there's a lack of resources, a lack of staff and a lack of competent security that is overseeing these facilities," said Patrick Moran.
The State Department of Human Resources, which is responsible for security, says, "Obviously safety is a paramount concern and we want to do everything we can to make sure nothing like this happens again."
A thorough review of security policies is now underway. The state will also look at policies in other jurisdictions to see if any changes need to be made.
That baby girl is expected to survive her injuries. Police have not yet released the identity of the mother.
