Bakersfield man caught on camera punching toddler in the face
WARNING: This footage contains material that some viewers may find disturbing due to explicit language and/or the graphic nature of the material.
FRESNO, Calif. -- Police in Bakersfield arrested a man who they say hit a toddler in the face. The whole incident was caught by a surveillance camera.
In a video posted on Facebook on Thursday, a toddler is seen running around the Vest Market in downtown Bakersfield. A man comes running down the aisles, and then he's seen hitting the toddler in the face.
The man then picks up the toddler and flips him around as a woman comes and takes the child away. The toddler is seen crying and holding his face.
Officials say the toddler was checked out by paramedics and is doing just fine.
The suspect was identified as 23-year-old Justin Whittington of Bakersfield. He was arrested for child endangerment and booked into Kern County Jail, where he remains in custody Friday with bail set at $1 million, according to the jail website.
If you have any information regarding this case, you're urged to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.
