Czech cop knocks 16-month-old from pram during altercation with mother
The Mediafax press agency and TV Nova report that municipal police in the Czech town of Rokycany have brutally, unreasonably intervened against a woman who was walking down the street with her child and her dog. While intervening because the woman’s dog was not on a leash, a patrolman overturned the pram and the 16-month-old boy inside it fell to the ground. While the child ended up with "just" a bump to the head, he came close to smashing his skull on the curb.
The woman was going to visit her mother. She did not have her identification with her and her dog was not on a leash. This led to an argument with a patrolman who eventually pushed her to the ground, overturning her pram and spilling the child out of it.
Mediafax reports that a witness fortunately recorded the incident with a mobile phone from the window of a nearby building. The footage shows the victimized woman, Dana Giňová, telling the cops she doesn’t have her identification on her and discussing it with them. In the end she proposes they accompany her home for it.
However, when she sets out in that direction, the policeman runs after her, grabs her, and pulls her away from the pram by her hip. The pram falls to the ground and Giňová responds by shouting. A policewoman then quickly rights the pram and puts the child back in it.
The desperate mother then does her best to get herself and her child away from the officers. She does not succeed, as the male police officer catches up to her once more and prevents her from leaving.
The male officer has testified that Giňová assaulted him. She admits to having pushed him when he refused to let her go to her crying and frightened child.
The criminal police have taken up the case, which they are classifying for the time being as one of violence against a public official. However, it may yet be reclassified. It will take the police approximately one week to interrogate witnesses and clarify whether the male officer overreacted or whether the fault lies with the mother.
