Justin Whittington was arrested and charged for punching his toddler son, knocking him to the floor.
New York Daily News follows up on the shocking video alleging child abuse. Like the cell-phone video that led to the arrest of Michael Slager, the North Carolina police officer who shot Walter Scott multiple times in the back, surveillance technology captures another criminal act, landing the perpetrator in jail.
Recent video captured by a store surveillance camera prompts renewed conversation around child abuse. 23-year-old Justin Whittington was arrested and charged with child endangerment after surveillance footage captures him abusing a toddler inside the Vest Market.
According to the store owner, Harry Dindral, it was the "most horrible thing" he had ever seen. Dindral turned the video footage over to police, which also made its way online, sparking outrage, going viral and landing close to a million hits on YouTube.
Nevertheless, comments around the incident vary; some accusing the mother of "allowing" the abuse; others say the mother is also a victim; and surprisingly, some accuse the child of being a "handful".
Whittington, the boy's father, whose bail is $1 million, was arrested Friday morning around 2 a.m. Dindral defended his actions of turning the video over to police saying, "You don't hit a child like that."
Read full story here.
1,640 children died due to abuse and neglect in 2012. 44.3 percent died exclusively from physical abuse. Contrary to popular belief, children suffer physical abuse from biological parents more than from non-relatives. Until now, it has been easier for parents to abuse their children because no one would suspect it.
Unfortunately, more children suffer physical abuse and neglect than society is willing to accept. Most people suspect it of a neighbor, a co-worker or family member; and find it better to look the other way, rather than "get involved". This position enables child abusers to continue much like people enable addicts.
As mentioned earlier, while the video is clear, people perceive the incident differently. For example, many point to the "unseen" portion of the video, suggesting the child was somehow "asking for it". Much like the Walter Scott murder, pundits are now inferring that the "unseen" part of the video would somehow exonerate the shooter. To that point, observers say, "it doesn't matter what the toddler did, this type of retribution was over the top." The same view prevails in the police shooting of Scott.
No matter how one tries to "excuse" certain actions, viewers say "when you get to see it unfold," it becomes impossible for lawmakers to sweep it under the rug, without coming under public scrutiny. Keep in mind that this is also an "election" year, and many of the things that slid by up to now will face stiffer discipline until after the election cycle.
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