VERO BEACH — Authorities arrested a Vero Beach man Tuesday evening after a witness reported seeing the man beat and strangle a woman, and drive away with the woman’s baby, according to the police report.
Bernard Rogers, 28, of 2283 Blue Heron Lane, Vero Beach, faces felony charges for battery domestic violence by strangulation, child abuse and interference with custody.
Police responded to the 1500 block of 39th Avenue where the witness said the incident occurred in a parking lot in front of a residence.
The victim told authorities Rogers picked her child up from daycare, and the victim was retrieving her child when Rogers began to beat her in the parking lot.
Rogers hit the victim in the face, drug her by her hair, slammed a car door on her leg several times, and strangled her, according to authorities.
He also grabbed the infant from the victim’s arms and “threw” the child into the back seat of his vehicle and left the scene, the report states.
Authorities conducted a traffic stop on Rogers’ vehicle at the intersection of US 1 and Highland Drive where he was placed under arrest.
The child was located in the vehicle, appeared unharmed and was returned to the mother, according to the police report.
Rogers told authorities he is not listed as the child’s father on the birth certificate and is unable to provide proof that the child is his.
He was released Wednesday morning on $3,000 bond.
