art.stephens Mr. Cranky

(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.




  1. Special Ed says:

    Meh, I’m 55 and I ride the bicycles around the store, I leave them in different locations.

    I was in Wal-Mart with a neighbors dog that I was watching. The little white fuzzy dog was in the shopping cart and one of the Whale-Mart critters approached my and told me dogs weren’t allowed in the store. I replied that this was a seeing eye dog, dead serious. She/he/it replied, “oh, ok” and just walked off. Still makes me LMAO when I think about it.

  2. Alfred1 says:

    Let’s all pay close attention to learn who among us is missing…not posting during the time “Cranky” is detained.

  3. Alfred666 says:

    #62 – Enema of the State.

  4. teebo says:

    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.



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