North Miami Beach officers honored for helping save life of 6-year-old abuse victim

Pair of Miami Gardens officers honored for saving 6-year-old abuse victim's life

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Two South Florida police officers were praised on Monday for going above and beyond the call of duty to help save a child.

It was nearly two weeks ago when North Miami Beach police responded to a home in the city and found 6-year-old Mason unresponsive and mysteriously injured.

Officers Jonathan Hernández and Woobens Noel worked together to save the boy’s life, including administering CPR over the course of 30 minutes.

“My grandson would not have been alive if it wasn’t for them,” said Elizabeth Garcia, the boy’s maternal grandmother. “I know that for a fact and I hold nothing but gratitude and they deserve that honor and I came from the hospital because I wanted to make sure I face those individual’s that saved my grandson’s life.”

Police arrested Daniel Eduardo Romero on child abuse and child neglect charges following an investigation.

Detectives say Romero, who is the child’s mother’s boyfriend and not the child’s ’s biological father, caused bleeding and swelling in the little boy’s brain, as well as liver, kidney and spleen lacerations and a broken shoulder.

Mason, who has autism and loved karaoke, has been on a ventilator in the ICU ever since.

Detectives said Romero initially lied to officers about how Mason got those injuries, saying he fell off a bed then later a bike before offering other conflicting information.

“I’m just happy we got there in time and we were able to provide assistance for actually saving the kid’s life, because at the end of the day that’s all that matters,” said Noel.

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About The Author
Terrell Forney

Terrell Forney

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.