MISSION VIEJO, CA — A mother experienced some frightening moments Thursday afternoon at the Shops at Mission Viejo Mall when her child, who was riding on an escalator, let out a piercing scream as his hand became stuck in the moving parts of the hand-rail.

A witness saw the mother fall to her knees beside the screaming toddler as the father used the emergency shut off to stop the escalator, a witness said.

"I am shaking," said one witness. "They got him out. I'm guessing the arm is broken but he's out. I can't even tell you how awful to hear this little boy screaming. He had to only be three at most."