Man arrested after dangling child from second-floor balcony of Daytona Beach resort – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (WESH) — A 31-year-old man was arrested Saturday after allegedly throwing a 4-year-old from the second floor of a Daytona Beach resort, according to a police affidavit.

The man, identified as Brandon Gilmore, is now accused of aggravated child abuse.

According to Daytona Beach police records, Gilmore met the toddler’s mother about five hours before the incident, which occurred shortly before 8 p.m.

The man said he told the mother he would take the child outside to play and “scare him a bit.” He then held the child upside down over the balcony by its legs.

According to witnesses, Gilmore then dropped the toddler headfirst, causing him to fall two stories to the ground.

“He just swung in and played with them,” said Dasanni Bentley, who witnessed the disturbing incident. “And then he let go and grabbed him by one foot. And then the kids slid out of him and fell right on his head on the concrete, no grass.”

Gilmore told officers he held the child over the balcony but did not elaborate on his involvement, the affidavit states.

Bentley said the child was hit quite badly.

“His face started turning bright purple,” Bentley said. “He was obviously not getting any oxygen. It was just not a good situation.”

Officers said they had access to surveillance video that documented the incident. According to the affidavit, the video shows Gilmore leaving a hotel room, holding the child in his arms in the normal manner, before lifting him by one leg over the balcony.

Surveillance footage shows Gilmore then dropping the child head first, the affidavit states.

Bentley said Gilmore and the child’s mother ran down the stairs.

“They were all around him trying to make sure he was OK,” she added. “People were yelling from the pool not to touch him.”

Witnesses said the mother picked up the child from the floor and brought her back into the room.

Due to the severity of the fall, the child was taken to the hospital. According to police, the child suffered blunt force trauma to the head, but his current condition was not immediately released.

“Absolutely devastating,” Bentley added. “I don’t even know how I would react if it was my own.”

According to the affidavit, the Department of Children and Families took a report on the incident.

Gilmore is now charged with aggravated child abuse and is being held without bail in the Volusia County Jail.

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