Photos of the incident

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HAZELWOOD (KMOV) -- Hazelwood police told News 4 a mother voluntarily came in to talk with investigators after surveillance video from St. Louis Mills Mall caught her spanking her child with a belt several times. 

The little boy got lost in the mall and once he was reunited with his mother, it was anything but a happy occasion for the boy, and it now has the attention of Hazelwood police, who say they are investigating what happened.

Police said they were allowed to check out the boy. He did not appear to be injured or have any visible marks.

Most likely this case will be turned over to the prosecuting attorney, who will determine if there will be any charges.

One former mall security guard believes the mother went too far and he told us he wants that woman brought to justice. "It was very shocking, very disturbing. I had a hard time sleeping that night,” said Karl Lund. Lund continues, "He was crying the entire time, he was crying since the first time she hit him with the belt."

Lund said things were bad inside when they were reunited, but things got even worse once the mother and son walked outside. The adult first putting items away into the car and then using the belt in rapid succession, the child near the end using his hand to deflect the blows.

Lund said, "She wasn't looking around, she didn't seem concerned at all about anybody seeing what she was doing, as far as what made her stop, I would really like to know more of what made her start. But what made her stop; I'd say she got tired." 

Lund knows that many may not see things his way.  Corporal punishment can sometimes create a legal gray area that can be difficult for authorities and parents.  Lund says, "A lot of them are saying that it's ok to punish your kids like this and to use the belt once in a while, this is really something that was over the top and it's because the reason why he got beat is because he went missing in a mall."

It's worth noting that Lund is a former bodyguard for Shawn Hornbeck, protecting him after he was found.  

He is also now a former security guard at the Mills. 

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