Man arrested for choking child

A 47-year-old New Jersey man was arrested Tuesday evening for choking a child in front of a Stock Island restaurant.

Scott Willand Alino was charged with child neglect without causing great bodily harm.

Deputy Ty Torres and Sgt. David Lariz were called to the Hogfish Bar & Grill, 6810 Front St., at 7 p.m. Deputy Torres met an employee working the front booth who stated he saw Alino drag a 9-year-old girl to the parking lot and choke her to the point the employee was worried the girl was losing consciousness. The employee told Deputy Torres he confronted Alino. The employee stated the girl broke free, ran back inside the restaurant and Alino proceeded to physically threaten him. The employee then called 911. All parties were present when the Sheriff’s Office arrived.

Deputy Torres noted the girl’s neck was red. Alino told Deputy Torres the girl was misbehaving and that he placed his hand on her shoulder and neck area, adding that he didn’t need anyone telling him how to raise his children. Three separate witnesses in the restaurant told Deputy Torres they saw Alino drag the girl out of the restaurant and that Alino choked the girl in the parking lot.

Deputy Torres reviewed security footage of the incident which showed Alino dragging the girl to the parking lot and Alino putting his hands around the girl’s neck. It then showed the employee confronting Alino and the girl running away.

Alino was taken to jail.

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