News Good Samaritan Beaten After Attempting to Help Lost Toddler Find Parents

Pitt Gorilla · 06-29-2017, 08:51 AM

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...m_npd_nn_fb_nn

A good Samaritan was mistaken for a kidnapper — and beaten by the parents — in a Florida park after trying to help a lost toddler, police said.

The 2-year-old had become separated from her folks during a softball game on Saturday at Southwest Sports Complex in Lakeland, and was spotted by a man at the park with his friends, according to a police incident report published Sunday.

Believing she was lost, the man asked the child where her parents were and walked around the premises with her in hopes she could point them out.

But when the child's father was alerted by bystanders that his daughter was being led away by a stranger, the well-intentioned act was mistaken for a kidnapping attempt.

"I saw this man with my daughter in his hands walking toward the parking lot. What would you do?" the father told NBC affiliate WFLA in a phone interview. "I wanted to kill him!"

Thinking they were stopping a crime, the father and two friends approached the stranger: As his friends took the toddler away, the father punched the good Samaritan "probably five or six times," he told WFLA.

"I thought he was trying to take my daughter," the protective dad told the station.

In a 911 call released to the media, the mother also admits to hitting the man who was with her daughter, and says she did not immediately believe that the incident was simply a misunderstanding.

Lakeland Police, on the other hand, said they were confident that the man was just trying to help the girl.

"An independent witness who didn't know the family or anybody said they saw him pointing out different males saying 'is that your father?'" Lakeland Police Sgt. Gary Gross said in an interview with WFLA.

Police also said the good Samaritan had no prior criminal history and that they were able to verify that he had been at the park with friends.

"It’s understandable how parents can possibly be upset in a situation involving a lost child. However, this incident truly involved a good Samaritan trying to assist a lost child finding their parents," the police report read.

Despite the man's innocence, several posts were published on social media defaming his character. Family and friends of the toddler posted the man's name, photo, and place of employment online, calling him a "child predator."

No charges have been filed against the parents.

When contacted by WFLA, the good Samaritan declined to comment, citing safety concerns and telling reporters he'd left town with his family.

"This guy is a father, a local businessman, has two children, was trying to help this child but they turned it completely around," Gross told the station, "And that's not right."

Still, when asked whether he believed the man's innocence, the child's father said no.

"No, hell no, I don't," he said over the phone, "Not at all."

Mile High Mania · 06-29-2017, 08:54 AM

If the guy was trying to do the right thing, it's a tragedy... I do understand the reaction of the father though.

KCUnited · 06-29-2017, 08:56 AM

Read about this yesterday as well as some Facebook posts from the family. They fit about every Floridian cliché.

**TimBone** · 06-29-2017, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

If the guy was trying to do the right thing, it's a tragedy... I do understand the reaction of the father though.

You understand punching someone five or six times without taking a minute or two to get all the facts?

Rooster · 06-29-2017, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimBone

You understand punching someone five or six times without taking a minute or two to get all the facts?

If they are walking away with my two year old daughter......yes I get it. I'm not justifying it but I get it.

Both sides handled the situation poorly IMO.

nychief · 06-29-2017, 12:47 PM

Florida white trash.

**TimBone** · 06-29-2017, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooster

If they are walking away with my two year old daughter......yes I get it. I'm not justifying it but I get it.

Both sides handled the situation poorly IMO.

Punch now, ask questions later.

**The Franchise** · 06-29-2017, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimBone

Punch now, ask questions later.

The correct response is...

1. Be happy that you found said daughter.
2. Ensure that you take control of daughter.
3. Call the cops.

If the dude tries to run away....then THAT is when you step in and keep him at the location. You don't run up....and just start beating the shit out of the guy. That will get you sued....which I hope happens to this idiot.

Rooster · 06-29-2017, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimBone

Punch now, ask questions later.

Yes. That's exactly what I was saying.

DJ's left nut · 06-29-2017, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooster

If they are walking away with my two year old daughter......yes I get it. I'm not justifying it but I get it.

Both sides handled the situation poorly IMO.

I'm sorry, but this is firmly in the 'beggers can't be choosers' category. You do not get to misplace your child while drinking at a softball game and then question the manner in which someone found said child for you.

There's really no defending this idiot. And while there may be a sliding scale of how to handle this situation 'well' on the samaritan's part, he took a responsibility unto himself that he most assuredly didn't have to in order to help a complete stranger. 'Poorly' isn't even close to how he handled it. 'Less perfectly' may be fine, but the guy kept a 2-yr old safe. I'd say he handled it fine if he were dealing with 90% of the population.

He just happened to stumble onto idiot white-trash drunken Florida Man and suddenly it was a problem.

Pitt Gorilla · 06-29-2017, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooster

If they are walking away with my two year old daughter......yes I get it. I'm not justifying it but I get it.

Both sides handled the situation poorly IMO.

How did the helpful guy handle the situation poorly?

Rooster · 06-29-2017, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

How did the helpful guy handle the situation poorly?

From the OP "I saw this man with my daughter in his hands walking toward the parking lot. What would you do?" the father told NBC affiliate WFLA in a phone interview

All I have said from the beginning is as a father I get where a guy would lose his shit if what is bolded was happening. DJ thinks I'm defending these people and I'm not.

The helpful guy should not have taken the child away from the area or even given the illusion that's what he was doing.

Mile High Mania · 06-29-2017, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimBone

You understand punching someone five or six times without taking a minute or two to get all the facts?

No... I can understand the initial over-reaction. You see someone walking away with your child, yeah that will illicit the worst reaction unfortunately.

Pitt Gorilla · 06-29-2017, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

No... I can understand the initial over-reaction. You see someone walking away with your child, yeah that will illicit the worst reaction unfortunately.

You would certainly stop the guy, but you wouldn't be stupid enough to beat someone's ass without finding out what's going on. More than likely, the other person is trying to help your dumb ass.

Mile High Mania · 06-29-2017, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

You would certainly stop the guy, but you wouldn't be stupid enough to beat someone's ass without finding out what's going on. More than likely, the other person is trying to help your dumb ass.

Yeah, I think that's what most reasonable parent would do... but, if your 2 year old gets out of sight like this one did, you're likely not all that reasonable. Sure, shit happens, but seriously you have to watch your kids. It takes a minor moment of time for shit to go wrong.

06-29-2017, 08:51 AM	Topic Starter
Pitt Gorilla Banned! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NOT Columbia, MO 65201 Casino cash: $2670194	Good Samaritan Beaten After Attempting to Help Lost Toddler Find Parents http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...m_npd_nn_fb_nn A good Samaritan was mistaken for a kidnapper — and beaten by the parents — in a Florida park after trying to help a lost toddler, police said. The 2-year-old had become separated from her folks during a softball game on Saturday at Southwest Sports Complex in Lakeland, and was spotted by a man at the park with his friends, according to a police incident report published Sunday. Believing she was lost, the man asked the child where her parents were and walked around the premises with her in hopes she could point them out. But when the child's father was alerted by bystanders that his daughter was being led away by a stranger, the well-intentioned act was mistaken for a kidnapping attempt. "I saw this man with my daughter in his hands walking toward the parking lot. What would you do?" the father told NBC affiliate WFLA in a phone interview. "I wanted to kill him!" Thinking they were stopping a crime, the father and two friends approached the stranger: As his friends took the toddler away, the father punched the good Samaritan "probably five or six times," he told WFLA. "I thought he was trying to take my daughter," the protective dad told the station. In a 911 call released to the media, the mother also admits to hitting the man who was with her daughter, and says she did not immediately believe that the incident was simply a misunderstanding. Lakeland Police, on the other hand, said they were confident that the man was just trying to help the girl. "An independent witness who didn't know the family or anybody said they saw him pointing out different males saying 'is that your father?'" Lakeland Police Sgt. Gary Gross said in an interview with WFLA. Police also said the good Samaritan had no prior criminal history and that they were able to verify that he had been at the park with friends. "It’s understandable how parents can possibly be upset in a situation involving a lost child. However, this incident truly involved a good Samaritan trying to assist a lost child finding their parents," the police report read. Despite the man's innocence, several posts were published on social media defaming his character. Family and friends of the toddler posted the man's name, photo, and place of employment online, calling him a "child predator." No charges have been filed against the parents. When contacted by WFLA, the good Samaritan declined to comment, citing safety concerns and telling reporters he'd left town with his family. "This guy is a father, a local businessman, has two children, was trying to help this child but they turned it completely around," Gross told the station, "And that's not right." Still, when asked whether he believed the man's innocence, the child's father said no. "No, hell no, I don't," he said over the phone, "Not at all."
Posts: 46,147

06-29-2017, 08:54 AM	#2
Mile High Mania #triggering Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Tejas Casino cash: $3447229	If the guy was trying to do the right thing, it's a tragedy... I do understand the reaction of the father though. __________________
Posts: 30,345

06-29-2017, 08:56 AM	#3
KCUnited Cheat Death Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Land of Drincoln Casino cash: $1968244	Read about this yesterday as well as some Facebook posts from the family. They fit about every Floridian cliché.
Posts: 34,088

06-29-2017, 12:47 PM	#6
nychief MVP Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: NYC Casino cash: $6899466	Florida white trash. __________________ Good Time Charlie, Uncle Doobie and the Great Frisco Freakout.
Posts: 7,886