Stranger slaps toddler in Wal-Mart

**Buttercup** · 09-04-09, 08:36 AM

AP – This undated booking photo provided Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 by the Gwinnett County Sheriff in Stone …

AP

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. – Police say a 61-year-old man annoyed with a crying 2-year-old girl at a suburban Atlanta Walmart slapped the child several times after warning the toddler's mother to keep her quiet.

A police report says after the stranger hit the girl at least four times, he said: "See, I told you I would shut her up."
Roger Stephens of Stone Mountain is charged with felony cruelty to children. It was unclear if he had an attorney and a telephone call to his home Wednesday was unanswered.

Authorities say the girl and her mother were shopping Monday when the toddler began crying. The police report says Stephens approached the mother and said, "If you don't shut that baby up, I will shut her up for you."

Authorities say Stephens then grabbed the 2-year-old and slapped her. The child began screaming and Stephens was arrested. Police say an examination showed the girl's face was slightly red.

A call to the girl's mother, identified in the police report as Sonya Mathews of Grayson, was answered by a woman who identified herself as Sabrina Mathis, the victim's aunt.
Mathis said Wednesday that the girl is doing fine.
"As of today, she has really forgotten about it," Mathis said. "She's been playing."
Mathis said the girl's mother was shaken up over the incident.
"She's as well as to be expected," Mathis said. "Right now she's just trying to calm down."

**jmur5074** · 09-04-09, 08:54 AM

What a nut case

**mack** · 09-04-09, 09:05 AM

Holy crap!

**Second Chance** · 09-04-09, 09:42 AM

hmmmmmm, let me think, oh ya, ASSHOLE who needs a beat down...............

**MonsterMash** · 09-04-09, 10:18 AM

That should have read: "The offender was booked in at the county jail after being relased from the hospital for various injuries."

**irishmick** · 09-04-09, 10:49 AM

If someone did that to my kid, I'd beat the hell out of them. Of course, chances of catching me in a Wal-Mart are slim to none.

**Pudge** · 09-04-09, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by MonsterMash

That should have read: "The offender was booked in at the county jail after being relased from the hospital for various injuries."

Amen. And I'd like to think the injuries would have come from several falls before the responding officers arrived, and then while being taken to the car.

**irishmick** · 09-04-09, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Pudge113

Amen. And I'd like to think the injuries would have come from several falls before the responding officers arrived, and then while being taken to the car.

"No, really...he tripped over that parking curb, sir..."

**Pudge** · 09-04-09, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by irishmick

"No, really...he tripped over that parking curb, sir..."

If it would've been my kid he slapped, he probably would've been thrown through the back window of the first cruiser on scene. "What? Just puttin him in the back for ya buddy!"

**Five-0** · 09-04-09, 11:44 AM

There is one thing that I can't stand and that is children going ape shit in public. Especially in resturants. Parents not handling their children chaps my ass. I was subject to spankings from extended family, teachers, and close friends of the family that I was entrusted to from time to time. However, if you are not given that charge you don't touch someone else's children. If I was shopping in Walmart and some stranger popped my kid I would be moonlighting as the tooth fairy.

**Twan007** · 09-04-09, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by Five-0

Parents not handling their children chaps my ass. I was subject to spankings from extended family, teachers, and close friends of the family that I was entrusted to from time to time. However, if you are not given that charge you don't touch someone else's children.

there ya go Five-0 - exactly what I was thinking - first off, the mom should've handled her business with the kiddo... but even if she's one of those tree loving "express your emotions" type of granola moms, the second he picked the kiddo up, mom should've been crawling all over him... mom should've handled her business with either the kid, or the grumpy old bastard...

and I say it with all the love in my heart - b/c if I can't handle my kid - some stranger off the street better NEVER think of trying to handle them for me... or I may just lose my mind on ya...

**MacLean** · 09-04-09, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by irishmick

If someone did that to my kid, I'd beat the hell out of them. Of course, chances of catching me in a Wal-Mart are slim to none.

People of Walmart: a collection of all the creatures that grace us with their presence at Walmart, America's favorite store.

(Some of it might not be safe for work.)

**Pudge** · 09-04-09, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by Five-0

There is one thing that I can't stand and that is children going ape shit in public. Especially in resturants. Parents not handling their children chaps my ass. I was subject to spankings from extended family, teachers, and close friends of the family that I was entrusted to from time to time. However, if you are not given that charge you don't touch someone else's children. If I was shopping in Walmart and some stranger popped my kid I would be moonlighting as the tooth fairy.

+1

I totally agree. A kid should be handled in that situation. But a total stranger? Yeah....don't think so. That said, I have politely asked someone to regain control of their kid if it's extreme. But never to the point of threatening. If the guy didn't already have dentures, he'd be buying some Polygrip by the time he was done at that store.

**irishmick** · 09-04-09, 02:59 PM

Without having more information, it's hard to say whether or not Mom was trying to handle the situation. The article just says the kid began crying and then the guy went ballistic. So who knows.

But I agree. If my son so much as starts talking too loud, we have a chat. If the chat doesn't work, I'm not opposed to leaving my entire cart of groceries and taking him outside for a little spinal cord to brain reattachment. But, he also knows better (for the most part...he's still 2).

**tapout** · 09-04-09, 03:22 PM

that guy just looks like an asshole. like hes angry all the time. what a dick.

**Terminator** · 09-04-09, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by tapout

that guy just looks like an asshole. like hes angry all the time. what a dick.

This was also my initial thought here.

**Sapper_132** · 09-04-09, 05:40 PM

Hit my kid get a beat down, all is fare in love and war!

**tapout** · 09-04-09, 10:53 PM

ok...so the question is, who honestly knocks this guys teeth out if he does this to your kid?

keep in mind the guy is 61 years old but looks like hes 75 in his mugshot.

for me (im 31, 6'2, 215 lbs)...if he was 85, and slapped my kid cause he was crying, i probably would yell at the old man, scare the piss out of him, and continue about my business. cause old guys live by their own rules, and i understand this. id chalk it up to the guy being a crazy old man, id verbally give him the hucklebuck, and move on. if the guy was 25, and did the same thing, it would be on no holds barred style. 61 is pretty borderline. it would really depend on what kind of shape he appeared to be in. if hes a struggling 61, with a walker, and a colostomy bag, hes probably just gonna get the business verbally, with a lot of pointing in his face and a "hey old man, dont you ever..." now, if hes an in shape 61, looks like he takes good care of himself, has decent size to him, appears younger, etc, maybe i do give him the 25 year old treatment. it would really depend on a lot of circumstances for me.

remember, this is wal-mart were talking about. every inch of that place is videotaped. if an old man simply slaps your kid and really doesnt hurt him but maybe startles him a little, and you knock out his teeth and puncture his lung for it, thats gonna look bad, and theres a good chance youre gonna be disciplined or possibly fired as an LEO for that. is it worth losing your job and turning your life upside down for a slap. again, its just a a question im posing. cause im not sure how id react to this. id be pissed. and there would definitely be fireworks, im just not sure to what extent for this particular situation with this particular suspect.

any thoughts?

**Five-0** · 09-04-09, 11:17 PM

I see where you are coming from Tap. You are thinking about the situation rationally. Seeing anyone slap my daughter would not evoke a rational response from me. Now becoming the "tooth fairy" sounds good on an internet forum. I said it for effect. In reality, a joint lock to the ground and calmly explained coming to God meeting on the floor at the least. If he wants to go, a few shots to the solar plexus would talk him out of it. You can hit me for free if you are weaker, but I don't care who you are if you touch the little one. For what it's worth, I have made enough shoplifting arrests at my local Walmart to know where to be careful. I like my chances on the grocery side. Stay away from electronics and cosmetics/pharmacy.

**tapout** · 09-04-09, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by Five-0

I see where you are coming from Tap. You are thinking about the situation rationally. Seeing anyone slap my daughter would not evoke a rational response from me. Now becoming the "tooth fairy" sounds good on an internet forum. I said it for effect. In reality, a joint lock to the ground and calmly explained coming to God meeting on the floor at the least. If he wants to go, a few shots to the solar plexus would talk him out of it. You can hit me for free if you are weaker, but I don't care who you are if you touch the little one. For what it's worth, I have made enough shoplifting arrests at my local Walmart to know where to be careful. I like my chances on the grocery side. Stay away from electronics and cosmetics/pharmacy.

hey, i also see the other side, my boys are 3, and 18 months. although me whooping this dudes ass may not be a fair fight, neither is him vs my kid cause they are so young. so maybe he gets what he gives. i dont know. hopefully i never get put in this scenario.