NORTHAMPTON — A CVS employee described a disturbing scene to police in which she reportedly observed a grown man kick a young girl to the floor Sunday.
Police responded to the CVS on Main Street after a staffer reported that a man, later identified as Michael C. Rosa, of Greenfield, kicked his “young daughter” in the chest, causing her to topple backwards and begin to cry, according to a police report.
Now, he’s facing charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and reckless endangerment of a child, to which he pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Northampton District Court.
Rosa was captured on store surveillance entering the CVS Sunday, and yelling at his young son and daughter throughout their time there. When Rosa was making a purchase at the register, police said, his daughter walked up behind him. Twice, according to the report, Rosa yelled at the girl.
“Get the f— away from me,” he shouted, according to police. “I’m done with you.”
The girl again tried to approach Rosa from behind.
“Get the f— away from me,” he shouted again, the report states. “Trust me, you don’t want to be near me right now.”
That’s when Rosa turned around and kicked the girl in the chest, police said.
Rosa later denied kicking his daughter, police said, but admitted he “pushed her back with his foot.”
The girl later told police she was not injured and did not need medical attention, according to the report. A family member arrived at the Northampton Police Department that night to pick up the children.
As of Tuesday evening, Rosa remains at the Hampshire Jail and House of Correction on $500 bail. Police said the Department of Children and Families were notified of the incident and that case workers have spoken to the children.
One officer noted in another report that, as Rosa was being taken into custody, he said he “was glad to finally have a break from his kids.”
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.