Man slaps stranger’s crying kid

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | September 2, 2009 | Katie Leslie

[GoldStandard]

A Gwinnett County man is in custody Wednesday accused of slapping a stranger’s crying toddler in a Stone Mountain Wal-Mart.

Witnesses say that Roger Stephens, 61, warned the mother of the child that he would “shut up the crying child if she couldn’t,” WSB-TV is reporting. Stephens is accused of slapping the 2-year-old multiple times in the face and then walking away.

A bystander held Stephens until store security came to assist, according to the story.

[shaft29]

Right on. I am surprised that he didn’t need to go to the hospital before he was put in jail.

[Tax-chick]

Depends on the Walmart you go to.

And what time: most don't have a lot of kids in them at 4:00 a.m.

But even if the place is full of obnoxious kids and irresponsible parents, that's not a license for anyone to start hitting children. If a customer can't bear it, he can leave. If he wants to take effective action, he should first ask to speak to the shift manager or store manager to explain why he's taking his business elsewhere.

[DJ MacWoW]

I also noticed that if a parent is angry or frustrated, speaking soothingly to the child snaps the parent back from the “edge”. It’s surprising the patience they find to soothe their own child and quiet them when encouraged by someone else.

[housemouse 1]

hey, no slapping kids faces unless their teens and they’re cussing you.

[Tax-chick]

When we are shopping and there's a crying child, Hubby always says "Somebody's unhappy".

I always say, "At least it's not one of mine!"

[BlueLancer]

Welcome to Wal-Mart. Get your s**t and get out!

[Ironfocus]

How brave this guy is. I bet he goes around kicking small dogs for barking too.

If it was my kid then the story would have read differently: “61 year-old man found stuffed in Walmart lobster tank”

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

You forgot the /sarc or /snark tags bro....

[IYAS9YAS]

This guy is the jacka$$ who always stole your ball as a kid if they landed in his yard.

Naw, this guy is the jacka$$ who went into the empty lot you played in as a kid and stole your Tonka Trucks when you ran in to eat lunch.

[DJ MacWoW]

Hubby says “Sounds like one of ours”. LOL

[newnhdad]

My oldest was having a complete meltdown in a store a few years ago. several people walked by us while I tried to console her pitching a fit in the middle of the grocery store and not one person asked if they could help me. They were looking at us as if we were from mars and then the second one started in and before we could leave my wonderful neighbors call the cops on me.
Luckily I met the officer before at a community function and a few times at my daughters pre-school and he gave the kids some hand toys which shut them up.

Never shopped there again. I did all my shopping at the local “natural foods store” where the owner would give the kids free cookies when she saw us.

[Tax-chick]

That’s because you don’t currently have screaming toddlers!

It’s not like the mother’s in line at the Walmart with her 2-year-old because that’s what they do instead of going to the playground - sometimes you just have to shop with upset kids or run out of food and diapers.

For people who can’t stand the fact that there are other people in the world, there’s mail-order.

[WV Mountain Mama]

If he would have done that to my child, I would have maced him. I have it on me at all times.

Of course, I don’t put up with my kids throwing fits, whether it is in a store or not. They have learned from early on that it only makes things worse and I have never given in to it. To them, resistance is futile.

[reagan_fanatic]

I’ve raised two kids and working on a third. If anyone had come up to any of them and slapped them, they would have woke up on the floor with some teeth missing.

Gramps had the option of moving to another checkout lane of leaving. He chose wrongly.

[Albion Wilde]

Actually, there have been more instances where I had thought about slapping the child's parent...

Gryphen, don't do that.

Mommy doesn't like that.

Stop it.

Please, Gryph? Put that back.

OK, Mommy will put it back.

You can't have a cookie now because... don't open that...

OK, but only one.

Here.

OK, two.

Stop that.

Gryphie, please.

Please?

Mommy's good boy?

Please?

[Tax-chick]

Called the cops because the children were crying? I’d never go there again, either!

My #6, the crazy one, started screaming in the grocery store once, “They’re going to take me to Arkansas! They’re going to give me a 16-pack of beer! I don’t want a milkshake!” Fortunately, some of the employees knew all 8 of us from the Republican Party (small town ;-), and *didn’t* call the police.

[Cordio]

Absolutely right on, ntmilsmom. We grandmothers can oogledy boo and talk fun to someone else’s 2 year old and bring them out of their fit just from their curiosity and our mellow sounds and smiles. It usually works and the parent is so grateful, mostly for the understanding you have for their uncontrollable child at that moment.

This guy needs 2 year old sensitivity training. Wouldn't that be fun to watch!

[dfwgator]

I think of the Cosby “Jeffrey” routine. Little Jeffrey. I remember his name, not because he said, “I’m four years old,” but because Jeffrey’s mother said his name all 2500 miles of the trip.

[Texan Tory]

After this man pays the price for his assault according to the criminal justice system, I would counsel him as follows:

1. Yes, young children can be loud and annoying.

2. Foam ear plugs are very effective and very cheap; always carry a pair with you (I do), you’ll find them to be very helpful in lots of loud situations, not just crying children.

3. If you can’t stand the noise, and don’t have ear plugs, walk away.

[armymarinemom]

Thing is, that man had the option of leaving, the poor mother was stuck.

Too bad the Mom didn't have a black belt.