Police: Boy, 11, In Hospital After Being Thrown From St. Paul Balcony By Mother

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The St. Paul Police Department says an 11-year-old boy has been hospitalized after being thrown from a balcony in St. Paul on Monday. Investigators say preliminary information indicates the boy was thrown by his 33-year-old mother.

Police officers initially went to an apartment building on the 700 block of Hampden Avenue on reports of an "attempted suicide," just before 9 a.m.

On scene law enforcement found a child on the ground with numerous broken bones. St. Paul Police say he suffered a fractured jaw, broken leg, and a head injury. He was conscious and breathing, but police say he was unable to tell them how he fell. Based on information collected at the scene police determined that the boy was thrown by his mother.

St. Paul Police spokesman Steve Linders said the mother admitted to police that she had thrown the boy, but did not say why.

 "We're having trouble imagining any reason that this makes sense," Linders said.

Linders also said Police Chief Todd Axtell called each responding officer to offer support for their work to help the child.

Residents told WCCO they were shocked by the incident.

St. Paul Fire medics arrived soon after and took the boy to Regions Hospital, where workers expect he will survive.

The boy's mother has been taken to the police station for further questioning. She does not have a criminal history outside of minor traffic violations.