Man charged with bizarre choking of baby girl in Overland Park Walmart

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Oleh Zhownirovych, 54, was charged Thursday with felony aggravated battery and misdemeanor battery after a mom says he choked her baby Wednesday morning in the checkout line of an Overland Park Walmart.

Zhownirovych bail was set at $100,000 and he’s scheduled to be in Johnson County court Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

Overland Park police say Zhownirovych, originally from New Jersey, walked up to Quisha Hill and her four-month old baby girl at about 7:20 a.m., while they were in the checkout lane of the  Walmart at 75th Street and Frontage Road.

“I come in to grab couple items, and as I while I was at the counter top, speaking with the lady and bagging up my groceries, this random man comes out of nowhere and yanks the car seat out of the cart, has my baby, and he’s like I’m taking the baby, I’m stealing her. I’m taking her. Call 911. Call 911,” Hill said.

Police say a fellow shopper restrained the man until police arrived.  The baby was not seriously injured.

FOX 4 is following this story to learn more about Zhownirovych. Check FOX 4 newscasts and the fox4kc app/Facebook page.