Police Say Walmart Shopper Slapped A Stranger's Kid
Holy crap! A random Walmart shopper apparently just went and slapped some other shopper's toddler because the kid wouldn't stop crying. A police report says that the man told the toddler's mother to keep her quiet saying "If you don't shut that baby up, I will shut her up for you."
"See, I told you I would shut her up," the man supposedly said after hitting the 2-year-old four times.
KTLA says the man was arrested and charged with felony cruelty to children.
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Comments:
Holy crap! First, can we get automatic disemvoweling for anyone willing to defend this guy for what he did? I hate screaming and crying kids as much as anyone else, but physical abuse is indefensible, especially abuse toward children.
Dad?
But he looks like such a happy person in his mug shot. I never understood the logic of hurting a child to stop them from crying.
Bad Consumer indeed! That stuff may have been okay in his days, but now doing something like that could land you bunking with Bubba every night...
wonder who will slap him for crying in prison?
I don't even want to go near his lawn.
I'm trying to wrap my head around who would do that.
I mean, I don't like being around crying kids more than anyone else...
But...you have to be batshit, crazy insane to even think of that. But to do it 4 times?
I hope he gets what's coming to him in jail.
I'm surprised that the headline didn't read, "Man murdered by toddler's mom after he slapped her child four times."
They also denied him bond, so he's sitting in jail until the 8th when he has a court date.
Heres a link from the AJC (the Atlanta newspaper):
@bloggerX:
Back in the Good Old Days, people made an active effort to avoid bringing poorly-behaved children out in public.
I know I am going to get bashed for this one, but right on! I am of the old school belief that you should discipline your child with corporal punishment (there is a difference between getting spanked and being abused). I am also of the old school belief that others (usually neighbors or close family friends) can discipline a child as well, like it was in the south when my grandmother was growing up, in NYC when my mom was growing up and in the 80's when I was growing up. My mom and grandmother gave my neighbors just as much power to set me straight as they had.
With that being sad, kids today are too damn out of control. Kids should learn to listen and respect their parents and adults. You can have a great relationship with your kid while still reinforcing that you are the adult and in control and the child will obey you. I have seen way too many kids curse at their parents, hit them, just be complete and total brats IN PUBLIC and the parent either does nothing about it or acts helpless. What are you going to do when the kid is a teenager and really out of control?
There are so many kids that I have seen that I would love to smack around a few times but now these days you even think about raising your voice to a child and they want to arrest you.
@Thassodar: One: He's at Walmart. What do you expect else shops there?
Two: I'd look pissed to if I had to listen to an inconsiderate parent (oxymoron?) that lacked ability to parent their child, in a public place.
Three, I bet you only find old cigar boxes, with Louie's cash, some brass knuckles, and some old exercise equipment rusting in his basment.
Why doesn't this kind of shit happen to someone carrying a concealed handgun?
It was walmart is anyone really surprised?
That guy's face is just begging to hit something, I'm surprised he didn't headbutt the kid.
That said this is guy is scum.
I think we should all roll his yard this Halloween.
Why don't people realize that kids sometimes cry and make noise? Sometimes you can't help it and it really doesn't have to do with how great a parent someone is. I don't even HAVE kids and I understand that even the best kids sometimes get cranky and throw tantrums.
@itiswhatitis: What would you think if your boss disciplined you with "corporal punishment"?
Wouldn't you consider that a deep violation not only of civil society, not only of your rights as a private person, but a violation of the trust and authority implicit in the boss-employee relationship? Of course you would.
So how can you countenance the same act in the parent-child relationship, which is even closer? Which is even more reliant on trust and authority?
And doesn't the physical strength disparity make you even a little suspicious about the motives of someone who would hit a child? I know it does for me. My mother taught me that there's only one kind of person who would take a hand to someone much weaker than themselves - a bully. Does it really sound like a good idea for parents to bully their children?
Kids should learn to listen and respect their parents and adults.
Maybe the kids you've met simply don't see anything in you to respect. I know I don't.
There are so many kids that I have seen that I would love to smack around a few times
Right, see, that's what I'm talking about. You love to hit kids. Do you think that's healthy? That's normal behavior for a well-adjusted adult? That you love to hit people who can't hit back? I don't think that reflects well on you. I'd say, in fact, that it makes you some kind of sociopath.
If anyone who was around before the 70's can confirm or deny this thought I have....but it seems this was something done in the past on rare occasions?
I remember watching an episode of Mad Men where a friend/guest of the Drapers came over and hit a kid for doing something wrong. Someone *else's* kid in a hallway. No need for the actual parent to be involved. It seemed like the kid understood and the adult made it understood and that was that.
Was this something "normal" for the time or before.
Maybe this guy was remembering from HIS childhood? Maybe he just sucks(probably the real case I guess)....who knows? (I don't agree with the hitting for the record)
I know there's a time for common decency and having kids quiet down in public places(I don't like it either), but not to this degree.
Bye.
@itiswhatitis:
You obviously don't have very much experience with 2 year olds. When the 2 year old molars come in, they have bursts of pain that can make them cry. Even if you quickly administer teething gel and tylennol, it can take a while to kick in. And as a mom, you can't predict when this will happen.... and as a mom, you have to get your groceries just like the rest of the world.
In a big store like Walmart, if you don't like what you are hearing, you can just walk to another part of the store or leave and come back. It isn't a confined space. And you sure as heck never touch someone else's kid. If someone did that to my kid, they would leave Walmart in a body bag.
@joemono: why? My children would never mis-behave in public, would respect their teachers and others around them, would know how to sit on an airplane, go to a supermarket or be in any public place and not annoy you. So because I chose to discipline my children the same way I was raised (which worked) I should never have children? Right.
@Raekwon: Whatever you do, do not ask your father about that logic after he's just told you to, "Stop crying or I'll give you something to cry about". I also do not recommend saying, "No thanks, I obviously already have something to cry about".
Yes, I have a smart mouth.
Yes, my father was an abusive a-hole.
Yes, these things are probably related.
@itiswhatitis: "I know I am going to get bashed for this one, but right on! "
What the hell? A GROWN MAN -- a complete stranger -- hit a TWO YEAR OLD FOUR TMIES, and you are going "RIGHT ON!"
Wow. You are a coward.
Kids sometimes get cranky and have crying fits. It happens. It was in no way that man's responsibility.
What if this was an autistic child? Autistic children react differently to the world and just because they "lose control" doesn't mean their parents are bad -- it's because their child is autistic.
Your ignorance is astounding.
@itiswhatitis: You don't hit a child in the face.
I grew up with spanking as discipline - when it was ok for people that were not your parents to spank you. I picked my fair share of switches. Even then, it was never seen as appropriate to hit your child repeatedly on their face. That was the one thing that would get reprimanded by other adults.
there is so much wrong with "one" and "two" that I wont even start.
"three" on the other hand, you may be correct.
I agree with almost everything you said. I do not believe anyone else has the right to employ corporal punishment on the child unless the adult was swore at or hit. I see people getting hit by their kids all the time. I have one on the way and told my wife that if my kid hits me, I guarentee it won't happen a second time.
There is a huge difference between discipline and abuse. I will never abuse my child, but if they need discipline, they will get it. And I really don't give a crap what anyone else says about it.
I received lots of spankings (some were on the brutal side) when I deserved them. When I was little, my brother and I constantly got compliments for being so well behaved. I am 31 now... have never had issues with the cops, own my own house, have a college degree and have been at the same job for 10 years. On top of all this, I actually have ethics (a trait far too many people are lacking). Not bragging, but obviously a little corporal punishment didn't harm me.
Also, what if this child is disabled? Autistic? You can't assume by just looking at a child that he or she is just ~unruly~ and his or her parents are ~bad~.
@xay: I spank my own child. when my son was that age and throwing a tantrum, I would take him out of the store and deal with the issue. But if a perfect stranger had intervened and hit my child repeatedly while I was standing right there, I would probably still be in prison for assault.
@itiswhatitis: "My children would never mis-behave in public..." Hahahahahahaha. Nice troll. I fell for it.
@SigmundTheSeaMonster: "One: He's at Walmart. What do you expect else shops there?"
I have no idea what you just tried to type. I expect people shop there. From all walks of life.
"Two: I'd look pissed to if I had to listen to an inconsiderate parent (oxymoron?) that lacked ability to parent their child, in a public place."
Children are CHILDREN. They aren't perfect. Maybe she was hungry or tire dor sick. Maybe she was disabled or autistic! Did you ever think of that? Of course not. You're too self-centered and focused on your own little world to realize that you can't judge a situation just by looking.
@itiswhatitis: You clearly didn't read the article before getting out your soapbox. It was a 2 year old.
Do you honestly think that striking a child is a good way to make them stop crying, or increase crying? Does a 2 year old have the cognitive functions to understand the situation?
The girl suffered "redness to the face". I hope this old coot gets the same in prison.
@bloggerX: Yeah my mom used to tell me about how her brothers would get into trouble for stealing or somesuch and get spanked by half the neighborhood before they even made it to the front door.
@itiswhatitis: there's a HUGE difference b/w close family friend and/or relative disciplining a child and COMPLETE STRANGER.
@Ilovegnomes: don't you know, moms aren't supposed to leave the homes with kids? /sarcasm
or if you do leave with a kid, you are supposed to drop EVERYTHING when said kid starts crying, so we can get stories about inconsiderate shoppers who left the cart full to "coddle" their children. sadly i'm not being sarcastic here, just cynical
@itiswhatitis: Oh yea, that kind of "punishment" worked wonderfully in my home. After enduring years of his abuse, my father hit one of the grandkids once and my brother took the kids out to the car and called the cops. My brother and I didn't speak to our father for years and he's not allowed to see his grandchildren.
Do not recommend.
That dude looks pissed off for no other reason than to be pissed off. You may want to search his basement while he's in custody. Who knows what you'll find down there...