Newton Man Arrested For Strangling Child In Brookline Playground

BROOKLINE, MA — Police arrested a man for assaulting a child at the Pierce Playground, Brookline Police told the Patch.

Earlier this week Police asked for the public's help in identifying the man but gave few details about why, as Patch reported earlier. After a few anonymous calls came came in, police found the man and arrested him Thursday morning at his home in Newton.

Police arrested Christian Amaral, 23, of Newton for allegedly trying to strangle a boy at a playground because he thought the boy was harming a small pet, according to police.

Monday, Memorial Day about 5:30 p.m. a bunch of people were in the park including two young boys playing with a small family pet. Police said they went to get it some water in the heat when this man they've never seen before allegedly grabbed one of them by the throat and pushed him down and said "You shouldn't mistreat animals," according to Deputy Superintendent Mike Gropman.

The boy broke down crying and parents and other families in the area who saw started snapping photos of the man. After police posted the photos to social media and media outlets such as Patch picked it up, they received five positive identifications within 48 hours arrested him.

"This is out of the ordinary for anywhere, not just Brookline. A stranger approaching kids and assaulting them it's out of the ordinary. We're very lucky we have the citizens we do, and they were able to assist us through the photographs," said Gropman.

When police went to arrest him, the man had shaved his beard, said police.

Amaral was held at the court today for a dangerousness hearing.

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File Photo Up Top By Jenna Fisher/Patch