A man was charged with attacking the mother of his child and kidnapping their 2-month-old infant who he allegedly threw over a fence last week in Edgewater, prosecutors said Monday.
Nickolas Watts, 19, was ordered detained pending trial Monday after a judge found his actions showed “a gross disregard for the safety of the child.”
Watts, of the West Pullman neighborhood, was charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery of a child, aggravated domestic battery and child abduction, police said.
Watts and the child’s mother, 18, got into a physical altercation Friday afternoon at the Granville Red Line Station, 1119 W. Granville Ave., according to prosecutors.
Watts grabbed the 2-month-old infant from its stroller and attempted to leave, as the mother pulled at his hair and punched him, his attorney said. At some point during this altercation, Watts allegedly kicked the mother in the face, according to prosecutors.
He fled the station and was seen by a witness, throwing the baby over a fence, then jumping over himself, according to prosecutors.
He was detained about 20 minutes later in the 1000 block of West Glenlake Avenue, according to Chicago police.
The baby suffered fractures and was hospitalized in good condition, according to prosecutors. The mother was also hospitalized with blunt-force injuries.
Watts has a history of domestic violence incidents involving the same woman. In January, officers were called to Watts’ home after he allegedly punched the woman in the stomach, according to prosecutors.
At the time, she would have been nine months pregnant, prosecutors said. In April 2024, Watts was arrested for punching the woman, according to prosecutors. That case was temporarily dismissed. Watts also has a domestic violence arrest from December 2023, with an unnamed juvenile victim.
The woman had a prior order of protection against Watts that was not active at the time of Friday’s attack, according to prosecutors.
Watts’ attorney said he was attempting to protect the baby from the mother who was attacking him as he held the child. CTA surveillance footage of the incident will show the mother “initiating this interaction,” according to the attorney.
The baby was staying with Watts’ family in the three days prior to the incident, according to his attorney. The attorney denied allegations that Watts kicked the woman or threw the baby, adding he “certainly didn’t kidnap this child.”
Judge Sabra Lynne Ebersole, most concerned by a witness who saw Watts “throw a helpless, defenseless infant,” ordered him detained pending trial during a hearing in domestic violence court.
The court also granted an order of protection demanding that Watts stay away from the mother and child.
Watts is due back in domestic violent court May 16.