Four bloodcurdling words of girl, 11, as Florida man filmed pinning her to the ground

By WILL POTTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: 15:04 BST, 22 April 2025 | Updated: 16:16 BST, 22 April 2025

Sickening footage captured the moment an 11-year-old Florida girl screamed for help as she was pinned to the ground by a man. 

‘I wasn’t doing anything,’ she screamed as shocked bystanders filmed the incident, adding in a bloodcurdling plea: ‘I swear to God.’ 

‘Help me, help me,’ she continued, as the man on top of her appeared to try and keep her pinned between his legs while taking his phone from his pocket. 

The man was arrested at the scene and was later named as Marius Mutu, 43, a military veteran who worked at the Florida Department of Children and Families, according to his LinkedIn. 

In footage from a witness filming from a balcony, the suspect was seen holding her to the ground in a bushy area near Allison Park in Tampa, Florida. 

Witnesses were heard urging others to call 911, and when deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department arrived, they placed Mutu under arrest. 

He reportedly told deputies that the situation escalated after someone had been throwing eggs at his apartment for the past week, and believed the girl was responsible when it happened again, reports WTSP. 

Mutu was arrested on April 19 and is now facing charges of battery and false imprisonment. 

Sickening footage captured the moment an 11-year-old Florida girl screamed for help as she was pinned to the ground by a man, yelling to bystanders: ‘I wasn’t doing anything… help me, help me’ 

The man was arrested at the scene and was later named as Marius Mutu, 43, who claimed vandals had been throwing eggs at his apartment for a week and chased the girl down when it happened again 

Mutu is now facing charges of battery and false imprisonment, and was released on a $6,000 bond 

According to the sheriff’s department, Mutu had been complaining of vandals throwing eggs at his apartment for a week leading up to the incident. 

‘When it happened again that day, he assumed the girl walking nearby was responsible,’ authorities said. 

According to investigators, Mutu then chased her down and forced her to the ground as he attempted to take a photo of the child to report her to his apartment management. 

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said after the arrest that the acts seen in the shocking footage are ‘not only unacceptable, its reprehensible.’ 

‘The safety of our children is non-negotiable,’ Chronister said in a statement. 

‘This child endured a terrifying and traumatic experience at the hands of someone who chose to take matters into his own hands. We remain committed to protecting our children and ensuring those who harm them are held fully accountable.’ 

According to his LinkedIn profile, Mutu was most recently worked for the Florida Department of Children and Families, and previously worked as a correctional officer, security guard, and spent 10 years in the United States Air Force 

According to his LinkedIn profile, Mutu was most recently worked for the Florida Department of Children and Families. 

He listed his employment as a Child Protection Investigator from August 2024 to January of this year, where he said he would ‘apply strong communication and conflict-resolution skills.’ 

Mutu has also worked as a correctional officer, security guard, and spent 10 years in the United States Air Force.

According to the sheriff’s department’s arrest records, Mutu was released on a $6,000 bond. It is not clear when he will be back in court.  

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Four bloodcurdling words of girl, 11, as Florida man filmed pinning her to the ground

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