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Father Charged After 9-Month-Old Boy Is Taken At Knifepoint

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A man was charged with multiple counts Monday after for a 9-month-old boy was allegedly taken by the man at knifepoint.

William Merino Jr. has been found safe after an AMBER Alert was issued and his his father, 26-year-old William Merino, was taken into custody, New Jersey State Police said.

William Merino
William Merino (credit: NJSP)

The elder Merino was charged with kidnapping, terroristic threats, endangering the welfare of a child, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, authorities said. He was also charged with possessing a small amount of marijuana.

Police issued the alert for the baby boy after they said he was taken by his father from 12 S. Talmadge St. in New Brunswick around 9 a.m. Monday, authorities said.

Authorities said the boy was by his father taken at knifepoint during a quarrel with the boy's mother.

The alert was canceled just before 12:30 p.m., when police found Merino with the child sitting on a bench on George Street in New Brunswick, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's office.

The child was returned to his mother, prosecutors said.

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