Woman Intervenes in West Des Moines Parking Lot As Dad Allegedly Beats 5-Year-Old

What would you do if you heard a parent yelling and swearing at his child, then strike him so hard inside a closed vehicle that it shook?

A southern Iowa woman who told authorities she’s a mandatory child-abuse reporter said she “could not stand idly by” as the father of a boy about 5 appeared to "beat" him repeatedly inside a closed car. The alleged incident took place in the parking lot at 1800 Valley West Drive on July 12.

The action went “way beyond normal child discipline,” according to Officer Jason Hatcher’s report.

The witness told Hatcher that when she intervened, she was reportedly cursed at by the boy’s father, who told her to “stay the (expletive) out of my business;” her husband was allegedly “chest bumped;” and the man’s mother-in-law told her to “shut up and stay out of it.”

The woman told Hatcher she had watched the incident unfold from the time the family of five left the store until they reached their van in the parking lot, which was parked one stall away from hers.

“The dad … was yelling and swearing at the kids and telling the small male child … that he was being bad and could not go swimming” that day, according to the report.

The witness reportedly told Hatcher said she could not see exactly what was happening through the tinted side windows, but heard a constant scream that lasted at least 10 seconds. The van was shaking and the father reportedly continued to swing his arms toward the boy, who held his hands up in what appeared to be a defensive position, according to the report.

The witness said she approached the man, who was still hovering over the boy, and “asked him to take a step back and calm down a moment,” according to the report.

After the boy’s father allegedly shouted profanities at her, his mother-in-law became involved. That’s when the witness’ husband got out of their car to step in between the two women.

“The elderly father-in-law then became angry that [the witness’] husband was standing near his wife,” Hatcher reported. “He approached [her] husband and chest-bumped him, telling him to stay away from his wife.

A sister-in-law then reportedly entered the situation and yelled at the witness’ husband “for touching her father,” according to the report.

The family had left in the van, registered to a Britt, IA man, prior to Hatcher’s arrival. Target store officials say the entire incident was captured on video, which has been placed in evidence, according to the report.

Child-protective services have been advised, and the boy's father is considered a suspect in a child endangerment case, according to the police report.