SALT LAKE CITY — Criminal charges were filed Thursday against a man accused of throwing a 2-year-old girl into the pond at Liberty Park.
Jeremy John Oliva, 32, of Roy, is charged in 3rd District Court with child abuse, a second-degree felony; failing to stop at the command of police, a class A misdemeanor; and assault, a class B misdemeanor.
On Aug. 3, Oliva ran up to a man at Liberty Park, 600 E. 900 South, and attempted to punch him, according to charging documents. The man told police that Oliva was “a stranger.”
When Oliva’s punch missed, he pushed the man into the pond and then picked up the man’s 2-year-old niece and threw her into the pond, too, the charges state.
Police were called and said they found Oliva a short distance from the park. He allegedly ran, and officers ran after him until they were able to catch and arrest him near 1300 S. West Temple.
Oliva was on probation at the time of his arrest and had an outstanding warrant for failing to show up for appointments with Adult Probation and Parole, according to the charges.