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Naked Florida man charged with throwing baby over fence

Posted at 6:55 PM, Sep 25, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-25 19:01:50-04

(WKMG/CNN) - A Central Florida father was arrested after police say he tossed his infant son over a fence.

Michele Reaves said she knew something was wrong when she heard screaming at a nearby apartment complex. When she and police got in the area, they found a pair of pants in the roadway and heard a baby crying.

They found the baby lying face down on the ground in leaves with a naked man sitting nearby.

"It's a horrible situation," Reaves said. "He went this way, then went to my neighbor's yard, stripped down of what was left and sat on his trash can."

Winter Springs police say they found Richard Harris, 31, sitting there naked and his 4-month-old, whom he was seen holding just moments before, was gone.

Police said the father had thrown the infant over a fence.

"Picked up the baby, was patting him on the back," Reaves said. "I recognized the baby. Was a couple who would usually walk down the road with their dog and their baby."

Reaves said she spent the night with the baby's mother at the hospital while the infant was checked out by doctors. The little boy only suffered scrapes.

Police arrested his father, who now faces charges of aggravated child abuse. He has a long rap sheet and could face a long time behind bars.

"I'm just grateful the baby is OK," Reaves said. "The mom is OK, and now the dad will get help."

Courtesy WKMG via CNN Newsource