Police said 28-year-old Christian Valdez was arrested after breaking into the 37-year-old mother's Cauldwell Avenue apartment in the South Bronx around 8 p.m.
Authorities say the mother tried to get away from Valdez by climbing out to her third-floor fire escape with her 3-year-old daughter, but that the suspect struck her with a glass bottle and wrestled the child away from her. When the victim tried to take her daughter back, Valdez allegedly threatened to throw the girl over the railing.
At this point, a good Samaritan saw the suspect dangling the child out the window and climbed up the fire escape. He told Eyewitness News he threw vases and other household items at Valdez.
"I kicked the door open, I ran in, and I went to the fire escape," said the good Samaritan, who didn't want to be identified. "I told him, 'Let her go! Let her go!'"
Another good Samaritan managed to take the child away from Valdez.
"Luckily, somebody else came through this side and grabbed the baby, some guys," the first good Samaritan said. "They brought her down through the fire escape."
Witnesses said a group of men held the suspect down until police arrived.
The mother suffered puncture wound to the torso, while the girl had a laceration on her elbow, police said.
Melissa Petters was horrified as she watched the incident unfold.
"My husband and I ran out the door to see what was going on," she said. "And you seen blood and everything everywhere."
Petters said despite her injuries, the mother remained alert, solely focused on her daughter.
"She was just telling me, 'Melly, I'm scared, my baby,'" Petters said. "And I said, 'She's right here. She's fine. She'll be safe.'"
The victims were taken to Lincoln Hospital and are in stable condition. The suspect was taken into custody and removed to Bronx Lebanon Hospital in fair condition.