TOT’S HIGHJINKS
Terrifying climb onto 13th-floor AC in Bx.
A Bronx toddler was spotted climbing out of his family’s 13th-floor apartment window and onto an air-conditioning unit in a harrowing, caught-on-camera incident that’s sparked a city investigation.
Footage obtained by The Post shows the tot sitting atop the AC affixed to the window of his family’s Butler Houses residence on Webster Avenue in Claremont Saturday evening.
“Oh, my God! Catch him! Run! Hurry up!” one person is heard yelling in the video, which was shot at around 7 p.m. — just as first responders were arriving, witnesses and fire officials said.
“Where the hell are these parents?” another chimed in.
Neighbor Jennifer Mares, 29, said she saw the incident unfold and called 911.
The FDNY confirmed that it responded to the address just before 7 p.m. Saturday for a “jumper” at the window. The child was transported to Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center.
The 34-year-old mom, who wouldn’t give The Post her name, insisted that she’s not a bad parent — she just has trouble keeping up with her autistic son.
“I go through a lot with him,” she said. “He’s very fast . . . I do the best I can.”
The mom of three, a home attendant, said she was cooking while the boy’s father slept — and she didn’t even realize her “strong” 3-year-old had pushed aside the AC accordion and slipped out until neighbors banged on her door.
“Everyone came in cursing at me, yelling, ‘You think this is Africa?’ ” recalled the woman, who moved to the US from Mali a decade ago and is a naturalized citizen. “I’m not a bad mother, I didn’t abandon him. I was right there the whole time.”
But not even 24 hours later, Mares said, she saw the boy on top of the AC unit again. The mom claimed Mares made that up.
The FDNY responded to the building around noon Sunday again, for reports of a “jumper” — but said firefighters didn’t find anyone who needed help.
By Monday morning, the air conditioner was removed and window guards were put up. A NYCHA worker was spotted inside the apartment, adding screws to the window in question to keep it from opening all of the way.
Before installing an AC, NYCHA residents must sign an appliance agreement and notify the agency within three days after the installation is complete.
The agency didn’t immediately say whether this family had done that — or whether their AC had been installed according to proper regulations.
Administration for Children’s Services spokeswoman Chanel Caraway said the ACS opened an investigation “as soon as this family came to attention.”
The mother said an ACS worker inspected the apartment on Sunday and told her the agency would be monitoring her for the next three months. The mom said her son was OK. “For the people to think I’m a bad mother or person, it hurts,” she said. “This could have happened to anyone.”