Man arrested after allegedly abusing child in viral video identified, Gwinnett County police say

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A man has been arrested after a widely shared viral video showed what appears to be child abuse, according to Gwinnett County police.

Taken from a Lilburn Kroger parking lot, the video captures James Collins, 44, yelling at somebody inside a white truck to shut up. He then hits and shakes the unseen person, who police later said was a three-year-old child. The anger is then directed toward a woman who approaches him in concern.

“Mind your damn business, lady,” the man repeatedly says, adding, “I’ll raise my damn child the way I want to.”

After receiving several messages about the video, the police department said it assigned a detective to the case.

Collins has been charged with first-degree cruelty to children.

Police said the child “had minor injuries and is being cared for by family members” and that the Department of Family and Child Services had been notified.