DAYTONA BEACH, FL – A Florida man was taken into custody this weekend after allegedly dangling and dropping a child headfirst from a second-story hotel balcony, according to local authorities.
Brandon Gilmore, 31, faces charges of aggravated child abuse following the Saturday afternoon incident at the Sandlewood Resort. Daytona Beach Police were alerted to the situation, which they described as a trauma event, and swiftly responded to the scene.
Gilmore reportedly told police he had met a woman at the hotel pool earlier in the day. After spending several hours together, the woman allowed him to take her son outside to play. Gilmore then took the child to the balcony, where he held him by the legs and dangled him over the edge, intending to “scare him a little bit,” according to the arrest affidavit.
Witnesses confirmed the horrifying scene, stating they heard the child’s screams before he was dropped headfirst from the balcony. Both Gilmore and the woman had been drinking throughout the day, according to police reports.
Surveillance footage captured the incident, corroborating witness accounts and Gilmore’s statement. Fortunately, the child has been discharged from the hospital and is not expected to suffer any long-term health issues, authorities said.
The child’s age has not been disclosed in the affidavit. Gilmore remains in custody at the Volusia County Jail without bond, as per online jail records.