Man arrested after disturbing video of assault on child

WATCH ABOVE: Disturbing security video of child assault in California video store.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Police in Bakersfield, California, have arrested a man in connection with a disturbing assault on a child caught on a convenience store security video last week. The video, which was posted on Facebook, clearly showed a man chasing after a child in a Vest Market store, then hitting the child with his hand and knocking him to the floor.

Harry Dindral, the owner of the store, said the man in the video has been seen at the store before with the child. In the video the man and child appear to be accompanied by a young woman.

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Dindral said he was shocked when he saw the video and forwarded it to the police. In the meantime, Dindral’s friends placed the video on Facebook. In less than 24 hours, the video reached half a million views and 12,000 shares.

Police arrested Justin Whittington, 23, at his home and charged him with felony child endangerment. There is no word on the relationship between Whittington and the child.

WATCH BELOW: A police officer fights for his own gun as a brawl outside an Arizona Walmart leads to a chaotic scene between police and eight members of one family. Matt Mauro reports.