Roger Stephens: Stranger Accused Of Slapping Crying Child At Store

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."

Comments

[Evie156]

10:58 PM on 09/10/2009

I don't have any kids, and I hate noisy children. But what I hate MOST OF ALL, is people who hit children or animals. I am a woman, so I wouldn't have tackled the guy.But I would have started yelling, "THIS MAN JUST ABUSED A CHILD! STOP HIM!" And I would have followed him, yelling that. And if he got into a car, I would've gottent the plate number. I would have done the same thing if it was THE MOTHER who struck the child! HITTING KIDS OR ANIMALS IN FRONT OF ME IS NOT OKAY!

[EpicureanNutrients]

11:10 AM on 09/06/2009

I've been having such a hoot about this, I'll try it again to see who else comes along to jabber and snipe!

This guy has earned my respect. He dared to do what I've been wanting to do since ever I can remember, but never did because I (admittedl­y) am not willing to pay the price. I wish him the best as he pays dearly.

[chrish]

03:36 PM on 09/07/2009

He doesn't deserve respect for losing control. He could have just said something and walked away. The mother was probably well aware of the jangled nerves her child was causing, as hers were probably most jangled, but hitting a crying child NEVER solves anything and only perpetuate­s the message that violence is an acceptable answer to life's little (or big) problems.

[Goldfield]

11:12 AM on 09/10/2009

What is it about an adult assaulting a child that earns your respect?

Do you condone the assault of children by adults?

[wietog]

09:16 PM on 09/04/2009

Statler!

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=14njUwJUg­1I

[shockmagog]

08:42 PM on 09/04/2009

Every adult should be slapped just for stepping into a Walmart.

[temptemp02]

06:41 PM on 09/04/2009

Grandpa, you're hurting me!!

[plzchuteme]

05:01 PM on 09/04/2009

As abhorrent, inexcusabl­e, and criminal as this man's behavior was, I find my reaction to be no less tolerant for those parents who feel that they are somehow justified in verbally and physically abusing their OWN child in a store when they feel the child is misbehavin­g. Drag a toddler out to the supermarke­t at 10:30 P.M. and when the child protests his/her sleep deprivatio­n and boredom by acting out, ignoring them to the discomfort of the other patrons, or slapping them, spanking them, pulling their hair, cursing them, or threatenin­g them with even more serious consequenc­es once out of public scrutiny. This man's actions are incomprehe­nsible to me, but no less incomprehe­nsible that the aforementi­oned parents. Yes, I am a parent, and I did the lion's share of the marketing when my children were young. We went after naps only and sometimes had to leave the store before finishing. It wasn't that tough.

[S1m0n]

07:15 PM on 09/04/2009

I take your point, but sometimes aren't seeing the whole picture. I'm not talking about slapping r hitting a child, but sometimes the kid being dragged bodily out of a store is a child with autism who's melting down, not simply a tired and cranky child.

[lionzion]

04:49 PM on 09/04/2009

Ewwwww... This guy looks like a pedophille­...

[PoliticalJunkie65]

05:18 PM on 09/04/2009

Not a pediphile, they look happier.

This guy looks like he's never had a moment of happiness in his life.

[kesmarn]

09:45 PM on 09/04/2009

That is a very disturbing comment, in case you don't realize it.

Think about it.

[edwarvir]

04:09 PM on 09/04/2009

I am glad it wasn't my son. I would have
been throwing everything at his head but
the kitchen sink A two year old toddler is
a baby , going through the terrible two's is
hard on them also Lock him up and throw
away the keys

[bethebest]

04:06 PM on 09/04/2009

you can tell how pleased he is with himself!! oh lord!

Grumpy old man indeed!

[Dragline]

04:05 PM on 09/04/2009

But he looks like such a nice guy.

[anticrusader]

03:52 PM on 09/04/2009

What this man did is reprehensi­ble!

I also sometimes get really annoyed when I hear kids throwing a tantrum or crying nonstop (usually when I would love to cry and throw a tantrum too, but can't because I am an adult), but they are kids for crying out loud - no pun intended.

Some parents let their kids run around in the supermarke­t, or let them cry for a long time. That is really hard on other people. I realize, little kids don't know how to vent their frustratio­n any other way, and we need to acknowledg­e that, but sometimes, Mom or Dad need to step out and try to calm their kid away from the rest of the crowd. It usually doesn't take that long, a distractio­n, a little attention and the kid is fine. Parents need to take some responsibi­lity for their little one's behavior. Having said that, though, this man is a danger to kids. He could have seriously hurt her, and hopefully she will forget this incident. I don't know what I would have done if I had been the mother, but this guy is lucky he "only" got arrested.

[motoGpifupleez]

03:50 PM on 09/04/2009

He's just looking to give back all those beating he took from the "ugly stick".

[godless09]

03:54 PM on 09/04/2009

yeah no kidding for all we know he probably scared the poor thing with that mug yikes...

[godless09]

03:46 PM on 09/04/2009

Sorry folks YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO HIT ANYONE unless its self defense! So the kid was crying are we that precious to believe that our needs are more important than a crying child's needs. And so walking to another part of the store was not an option? Give me a break this guy looks mentally challenged and seriously needs to learn some boundries. Shame on him at his age, have some self control and not come apart, losing it in public and making a complete @$$ out of himself, BTW did anyone get his blood alchohol level just curious?

[sinnerQ]

03:36 PM on 09/04/2009

If some guy slapped my kid, we both would be getting arrested.

[IrishgirlsUSA]

03:34 PM on 09/04/2009

I'm sure we will find as this case progresses that this guy is insane. He may be in the first stages of Alzheimer'­s - the elevator is not going to the top story anymore and we need to protect society from this guy. Maybe his true insanity has come to the surface before or maybe this poor toddler is his first victim. We need to get this guy locked away before his rage kills or injures someone else. All toddlers have tantrums thats a normal part of the terrible twos - even you probably drove your parents a little crazy when you were this age.