A Marion County sheriff’s deputy was called Sunday to a local church after a 79-year-old Villager reportedly poked a chattering child.
The deputy responded to St. Mark The Evangelist Church in Summerfield after a church usher called law enforcement.
The Villager had become “irate and confrontational” and poked the child’s chest with his index finger, according to an incident report from the sheriff’s office.
The Villager, who did not know the child, admitted he had poked the child and said he was trying to get the child’s attention. He had also grabbed the child by the arm and told the child to be quiet, according to the report.
The deputy made the Villager aware of Florida statute in connection with such matters.
The mother of the child declined to pursue charges.
