A shocking incident involving a Newfoundland man, his partner and one-year-old daughter in British Columbia.

Dustin Lawton, who is from Princeton, Bonavista Bay, was walking with his family in downtown New Westminster last Friday when they were confronted by a man acting erratically.

The man got between Lawton and the stroller, at one point lifting it off the ground with his daughter inside.

When the man reached for the child, Lawton struck him in the head while his partner got hold of the stroller and their daughter.

Lawton pinned the man for a short time before he got up and turned his attention to a car, slamming his fists on the bonnet.

Police arrived and arrested the 46-year-old suspect, who was charged with one count of assaulting a police officer, by spitting on him, and one count of mischief.

Lawton says he’s upset there were no charges related to the attack on his family, and that the suspect was released the next day.

Police say it was a random attack but they were familiar with the man for previous minor offences.