man slaps toddler

[heatherlynn22]

i was reading through the aim stories when i came across this startling one....

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (Sept. 2) - 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."

i honestly don't know what i'd do if some strange man slapped either of my children. what a disgusting old man!

[guessagain]

I think people in general intend well, but when it actually comes time to get involved, they're stunned, afraid, frozen, lots of emotion involved.  

[margypops]

I hear he is in big trouble and has been arrested they are wondering if he is functioning ,properly, he slapped the child  2 year old, 5 times, why didnt someone leap on him after the first one or two?

[guessagain]

I'm with April, what if this jerk has produced offspring? What have they gone through, what kind of "parental training" has moved down the line.

Between my luck and my anger management issues, I would have ended up in the same cell with him, but I would have felt good about it.

[tbabi20]

On everything I love, and on everything that I know and hold dear, I wish he WOULD lay an aggressive hand on my child…

Basically this woulda taken a turn for the worse AS SOON AS he uttered the words “if you don’t shut that baby up, I will shut her up for you.” because I woulda looked like a rapid flying squirrel all up on that man’s face. IMMEDIATELY.

But honestly the Lord knows I’ve wanted to beat an annoying kid in public (more so the parents if it was obvious that they were ignoring them)…but I have ENOUGH self control to keep them THOUGHTS. I don’t touch other folks kids unless we are family or I’m cool with you and I have PERMISSION. I would NEVER walk up to a total stranger and smack up somebodies kids for the fear of gettin’ SHOT.

PLUS THIS KID IS 2!!!

Like seriously does this person think he's gangster of something?.. "If you don't shut that baby up, I will shut her up for you."  Oooh I wish he WOULD.

[Lonelymom]

If it was my child, I would have ended up behind bars with the man and only after he got out of the hospital.

I will never let anyone touch my children like that.

[jollyman069]

I am a christian...but i am afaird i would have lots of repenting to do, because if i saw a man slap alittle child like that he would get slapped 4 times as hard and 4 times as many....this man should be in jail no bail

[April2]

I can pretty much guarantee you if he's acted this way towards a total stranger, he's acted this way, or even worse, towards his own kids.

[heatherlynn22]

i hope he gets a few years. only god knows if he's actually hurt any kids.

[margypops]

Well he'd sure as heck end up on the ground clutching his privates ......if he touched any child and I saw it.