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WEBVTT THE CHILD'S RESCUE. >> WE RECEIVED A REPORT THAT THERE WAS A MALE WHO HAD CHOKED A FOUR-MONTH-OLD INFANT. PEGGY: THAT CALL LED POLICE TO A 54-YEAR-OLD MAN INSIDE THIS STORE AT 77TH AND I-35 WHILE ATTACKING THE BABY, THE MOM SCREAMED. BYSTANDERS AND WALMART SECURITY PERSONNEL TOOK HIM TO THE GROUND AND HELD HIM FOR POLIC >> WE DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL OR HIS MENTAL STATE. PEGGY: SO HE WAS BROUGHT TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL FOR EVALUATION BEFORE BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE JOHNSON COUNTY JAIL TO AWAIT CHARGES. THE MAN IS LISTED AS A RIGHT REVEREND FOR A UKRAINIAN CHURCH IN NEW JERSEY. HIS ADDRESS AND THE CHURCH'S ARE THE SAME. BUT WHY THE MAN WAS HERE TODAY AND WHAT HIS INTENTIONS WERE ARE STILL UNCLEAR. POLICE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO SORT IT ALL OUT. SHOPPERS HERE SAY THEY'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE, TOO. >> I AM JUST FLABBERGASTED. I CAN'T BELIEVE PEOPLE TREAT EACH OTHER LIKE THAT. >> I CAN'T IMAGINE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING. I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE THINK THEY CAN DO STUFF LIKE THAT. PEGGY: THE MAN IS EXPECTED TO MAKE HIS FIRST COURT APPEARANCE TOMORROW. THE CHILD WAS CHECKED, BUT UNHURT. IN OVERLAND PARK, PEGGY BREIT, KMBC 9 NEWS. LARA: WALMART HEADQUARTERS HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT, CALLING THE INCIDENT "APPALLING." THEIR MAIN CONCERN, THEY SAY, IS FOR THEIR CUSTOMER'S WELL-BEING,

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A man is in custody suspected of trying to choke a 4-month-old baby Wednesday morning in a checkout line at Walmart, Overland Park police said. Police were called at 7:23 a.m. to the store south of 75th Street and Frontage Road. Authorities said an unknown man came up to the woman while she was in the checkout line and started choking the infant, who was in her car seat in the shopping cart. Police said the mother started screaming and the man stopped. Other people in the store ran to the woman’s aid, pinning the man down until officers arrived. Authorities said the baby is OK. Investigators said the 54-year-old Clifton, New Jersey man was being held on suspicion of aggravated battery. He was taken to a nearby hospital to be checked out. "We don’t know if he’s under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or his mental state," said Officer John Lacy of the Overland Park Police Department. The man has been associated with the Ukrainian Orthodox Holy Ascension Cathedral in Clifton. Investigators were trying to determine why the man was in Overland Park and what may have motivated the attack. He is expected to make his first court appearance on Thursday. Shoppers said they were stunned that something like this would happen. "I don’t know why people are thinking that they can do stuff like that," said shopper Erin Pyle. Walmart issued a statement Wednesday about the incident. “Our main concern right now is for our customer and her child. We’re appalled this happened in our store and we’re working with police to make sure they have all the information they need," the company said.