SUNNY ISLES BEACH, Fla. – A man was arrested Monday after he choked a boy who was playing with water guns with his son at a park in Sunny Isles Beach, authorities said.
The incident was reported just before 6 p.m. at Gwen Margolis Park, located at 17815 N. Bay Road.
According to the suspect’s arrest report, Robert Sandy Marcu’s 8-year-old son was playing with water guns with a 10-year-old boy when Marcu grabbed the other boy by the neck and began shaking him while still gripping his neck, impeding the boy’s breathing.
Sunny Isles Beach police said the victim’s father reported the incident to police after his son called him. Responding officers noted that they saw red markings on the boy’s neck as well as scratches.
There was also cellphone video evidence of the attack that police were grateful to have.
“The video helped us make the arrest,” said a Sunny Isles Beach Police Sgt. Melissa Porro. “We couldn’t ask for a better video.”
Police said Marcu, 60, who lives in Sunny Isles Beach, was then taken into custody.
According to authorities, Marcu’s son and the victim have had an ongoing childhood spat and got into another disagreement Monday before Marcu attacked him.
According to the report, Marcu provided a statement as he was being placed in a marked patrol unit, however that statement was redacted from the publicly released report.
Marcu was transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center where he was booked on felony charges of aggravated child abuse and battery by strangulation.
As of Tuesday morning, Marcu remained at TGK, where his bond was set at $5,000.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer ordered Marcu to stay at least 15 feet away from the victim at all times.