Jason Barone, 38, of Carlstadt, walked out of Jersey City Medical Center and tried hitting the woman with a wooden plank and grab her cell phone Saturday morning, City Spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said.
Barone jumped into the river when police arrived, and swam to a barge where he was taken into custody, officials said.
He was charged with robbery and unlawful possession of a weapon, before being taken to the Jersey City Medical Center for evaluation, according to Wallace-Scalcione.
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