Man arrested after video shows him choking child at Sunny Isles Beach park – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) – A man was arrested after police say he strangled a child in a park.

Sunny Isles Beach police arrested 60-year-old Robert Marcu on Monday after a video showed him putting his hands around a child’s neck and shaking him repeatedly.

A video obtained by 7News shows the physical altercation between Marcu and an unidentified child.

“As a parent, it really makes you angry,” said Sergeant Melissa Porro of the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department.

Police reported that a small fight broke out between some children in Gwen Margolis Park. Marcu intervened and the situation escalated.

“The children were having a little argument and this father decided out of the blue to intervene and commit this heinous crime,” Porro said.

The video shows Marcu intervening violently.

“One father decided to take matters into his own hands and then went ahead and grabbed the other child by the neck and shook him violently,” Porro said.

Shortly after the incident, Marcu was arrested by police at his home.

On Tuesday, Marcu was in court ready to tell his side of the story.

“Well, Judge, the incident was minor,” said Marcu.

“Don’t talk about the facts. You are presumed innocent. You have the right to be accompanied by an attorney in court,” said Judge Mindy S. Glazer.

Police said there was no excuse for this behavior.

“No one should ever lay a hand on anyone and as police officers we do not condone or encourage violence under any circumstances,” Porro said.

Marcu will remain behind bars. If he posts bail, he will not be allowed to come closer than five meters to the child.

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