An off-duty security officer drew a concealed firearm and helped end the disturbance before officers made an arrest.
SEVEN HILLS, Ohio — A 3-year-old boy was injured Wednesday morning when a man ran up from behind and slammed the child’s face into a shopping cart inside a Meijer store, police said. An off-duty security officer confronted the man at about 10:30 a.m., and responding officers took him into custody.
Police said the incident unfolded quickly in the grocery aisles and left shoppers scrambling for safety. The child’s mother and aunt pulled their kids away and tried to leave as the man threw merchandise before being restrained. Authorities said the boy suffered scratches on his neck and behind his right ear and a bleeding cut on his nose. The case is in the early stages, with Seven Hills investigators reviewing store surveillance and statements. City officials and Meijer confirmed the arrest and said the inquiry remains open, with additional charges possible depending on the prosecutor’s review.
Witnesses told police the man struck the child’s face at least three times against the cart’s metal spikes shortly before 10:30 a.m. inside the store on Broadview Road. As people screamed that the man had a knife, an off-duty security officer drew a concealed handgun, ordered the man to the ground and, with help from another shopper, kept him from reaching other customers until officers arrived. “Before I knew it, I had my concealed carry firearm out,” the officer, Aaron Court, said in an interview. Police said the man initially refused commands and toppled items from a shelf before he was restrained and arrested without further injuries.
Authorities said the boy’s injuries were documented at the scene and the family left the store after the confrontation ended. Police said a social worker who knows the man told officers he is nonverbal and autistic. After learning of the man’s condition and seeing the immediate threat subside, Court said he holstered his weapon and called 911 himself. Meijer said it was aware of the incident, is cooperating with Seven Hills police and does not believe the episode involved kidnapping. Seven Hills Mayor Anthony D. Biasiotta said the investigation is ongoing and the case will go to the prosecutor when police complete their report.
Police cited the 37-year-old Broadview Heights resident for assault and released him on a $375 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Parma Municipal Court on Nov. 19. Investigators said they are reviewing video from inside the store and interviewing additional witnesses to confirm the sequence of events, including what prompted the initial contact with the child. Officials have not released the child’s name. The man’s name was not included in the city’s initial public statement. Any decision on upgraded charges, if any, will be made by the prosecutor after the review of evidence.
The Meijer is a large grocery and general merchandise store that anchors a busy shopping area near the I-480 interchange. Seven Hills police have responded to the location for routine calls in the past, but officials described Wednesday’s episode as unusual for the city. Court, a staff sergeant in the Army with experience in military policing and corrections, said he reacted on instinct when he heard screaming and saw a crowd running. “I thought I was going to die,” he said, adding that he focused on stopping the man from reaching other shoppers while awaiting officers.
In written statements, Meijer said it appreciates the police response and will continue cooperating with the investigation. Mayor Biasiotta said additional charges “may or may not” be filed once the case reaches the prosecutor. Police said detectives will finalize reports and forward the case file ahead of the Nov. 19 court date. No additional injuries were reported. Officials did not provide an update on the boy’s condition beyond the cuts and scratches noted at the scene. The store remained open after officers cleared the area.
Shoppers who were inside said the store fell silent after the arrest, with families gathering near the front doors. Court said the child’s mother later thanked him online. “I don’t feel like a hero,” he said. “I was just there at the right time.” His mother, reached by text, said she was proud of him and called him “a protector.” The boy’s relatives wrote that they were frightened but grateful to leave with their children after the struggle ended.
As of Sunday evening, police said the man remains cited for assault while evidence is reviewed for possible additional charges. The next milestone is the scheduled appearance in Parma Municipal Court on Nov. 19, when a judge will address the citation and any prosecutor filings that result from the ongoing review.
Author note: Last updated November 9, 2025.