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Cops: Man hit kids at store for thrill

68-year-old arrested Wednesday in Ohio

Updated: Friday, 12 Mar 2010, 1:47 PM EST
Published : Friday, 12 Mar 2010, 1:38 PM EST

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Police in Ohio say a man in a Walmart store punched children with a key protruding from his fist and told investigators it was a thrill.

Sixty-eight-year-old Ralph Conone was arrested at a Columbus Walmart Wednesday after a mother told the store her 6-year-old son said Conone hit him.

The boy was treated for a minor cut on the head. Police say a brother also had been struck.

Sgt. John Hurst says Conone told police it was exciting to hit children with their parents nearby.

LINK TO VIDEO:

http://www.woodtv.com/dpps/news/strange/police-man-hit-children-at-walmart-for-thrill-jgr_3269141

When Conone was in court Friday on two counts of assault, a judge set bond at $150,000 and told him to keep out of Walmarts. His public defender said Conone is manic depressive.

Police say they're looking for two other children seen getting struck on store video.