Background: News footage of the Milwaukee, Wis. home where Jaimann Eiland allegedly threw a toddler off a balcony (WISN). Inset: Jaimann Eiland (Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office).
A Wisconsin man who allegedly threw a baby over a second-story balcony now faces felony charges and sits behind bars.
Jaimann Eiland, 31, was arrested March 15 after prosecutors said he “intentionally threw” a 1-year-old girl from the balcony of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin home of the baby’s mother Shakira Walters, whose age was not available. According to a criminal complaint obtained by WITI, a local Fox affiliate, an argument erupted between Walters and Eiland on March 13 after she heard her baby crying. WITI reported that the altercation escalated, and Eiland allegedly retrieved a knife and told Walters, “You gon’ die today.”
Per the criminal complaint, the argument continued to become more heated, leading up to Eiland allegedly grabbing the little girl by her head, dangling her over the second-story balcony of the home, and dropping her onto the wet lawn outside, narrowly missing an air conditioning unit. Eiland then returned to the house, the complaint said, and allegedly physically attacked Walters.
WISN, a local ABC affiliate, spoke to Walters who told the outlet of the little girl, “She could’ve died. She could’ve gotten really hurt from that, and I’m just mad.” Walters told WISN that despite the fall, the little girl only suffered minor bruising. But she told the outlet that she believed that Eiland “was definitely trying to kill my baby.”
According to the criminal complaint, the investigation began when officers responded to Froedtert Hospital, where Walters took herself and the baby after the alleged brawl with Eiland, who was identified as the ex-husband of Walters’ mother. WITI reported that the baby was treated for minor injuries while Walters was treated for a sprained finger and a laceration to her forehead that required three stitches. Walters also reportedly had a swollen hand and pain in one of her legs, and her shirt was stained with blood.
Police stated in the criminal complaint that a bloody knife was found at the home.
During an interview after Eiland was taken into custody, he reportedly told police that he and Walters engaged in a “tug-of-war” with the baby before he allegedly tossed her off the balcony. WITI reported that Eiland admitted that the fight had gone too far after the baby’s fall, but that he did not believe he went overboard.
Eiland was booked into the Milwaukee County Jail after being charged with substantial battery with a domestic abuse modifier and child abuse. After his court appearance on March 17, bail was set at $15,000, and if he is able to post bail, he will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device upon release. If released, he is ordered not to contact Walters and other family members. His next court appearance is on March 24.
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