CBS2 Exclusive: Family Furious After Girl, 4, Is Knocked Off Bicycle In Hicksville

HICKSVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A 19-year-old suspect appeared in court Friday, after police said he threw a 4-year-old girl from his neighborhood in Hicksville to the ground.

Suspect David A. Wallach faces multiple charges including assault, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child, Nassau County police said. He was also accused of threatening the child's family with a baseball bat and hurling baseballs through their living room windows.

CBS2's Jennifer McLogan spoke exclusively to the little girl's family.

The defenseless child was on her way to a medical clinic for a follow-up appointment Friday, after police said she was thrown to the ground – along with her grandmother, who showed CBS2 her bruises.

The bizarre violence unfolded around 12:40 p.m. Thursday on quiet Atlas Lane in Hicksville. The preschool was riding her bike with training wheels as her 34-year-old father walked alongside.

When they reached a neighbor's house, police said the car in the driveway was backing up, so the father tapped on the bumper as a warning, police said.

At that point, Wallach came out in a rage with a baseball bat in hand, police said.

Wallach allegedly ran toward the little girl and knocked her off her bicycle to the ground with his forearm, causing cuts and lacerations to her neck and chest.

"He struck with his hands across her face, knocking her off of her bike," said Edward Foley, the girl's father.

The complaint went on to say Wallach then physically threatened the father with a 32-inch baseball bat, and shoved the grandmother into a parked car when she ran out of the house to see who was throwing baseballs through their front living room windows.

The windows were shattered to the tune of $2,000. Police said Wallach was responsible for hurling the handballs following the alleged assault.

Outside court Friday, CBS2's McLogan asked some questions of Wallach's attorney, as well as the suspect's father.

The attorney directed Wallach's father, "Do not answer anything."

When McLogan asked what Wallach had to say about the charges, he replied, "The same thing I do," only for his attorney to interrupt, "I just told you, don't answer anything."

Wallach's family told the court their son is innocent, but he was held on $3,000 bond and ordered to stay away from the child, her parents and her grandmother.

Wallach's attorney said it was his client's first brush with the law. A judge ordered him to undergo anger management when he is released from jail.

The girl's family hopes their daughter recovers enough next week to return to preschool.