 Mr. Cranky
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(CNN) — A Georgia man allegedly slapped a toddler at a Walmart store because she wouldn’t stop crying, authorities said. Roger Stephens, 61, was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree cruelty to children. An incident report obtained from police in Gwinnett County indicated Stephens did not know the 2-year-old girl he stands accused of hitting.
The confrontation happened shortly before noon at the Walmart in Stone Mountain, a suburb of Atlanta. According to the arresting officer, the child’s mother said her daughter was crying as they walked down one of the aisles. The mother said a stranger later identified as Stephens approached them and said, “If you don’t shut the baby up, I will shut her up for you.” A few moments later, while the mother and the crying child were in another aisle, Stephens allegedly grabbed the girl and slapped her across the face. Police said he hit her four or five times. “See, I told you I would shut her up,” the suspect allegedly told the mother.
This type of behavior is to be avoided, no matter how tempting it is.
Wow, lots of comments and for some odd reason political views which really have nothing to do with the issue.
For myself, I cannont stand it when children cry, scream and otherwise terrorize other customers at any store, but I don’t hit anyone. I usually give the kid a stare that scares them enough to shut up. Sometimes, I tell the kid (one who is old enough to understand) “Your mother told you to stop …whatever”. That usually stops them. But when a kid is just screaming for no real apperant reason, I boldy tell the parent (because it is not just the mothers, sometimes it’s the father with the child) “This is not your living room at your home, this is a public store and we do not want to hear your child screaming, so pleas pay attention to your child and make them behave!”
I get such a diverse response from the parent, but I mostly get lots of thanks from other customers who wish they had the nerve to say something to the parent or the child.