would you grab a kid you didn't know if you think it was the right thing to do?

Was at a Cane's in NOLA yesterday for quick snack. Older gent walks in with two girls, one of whom is autistic. Restaurant has a decent amount of people in it, not packed but not empty. Man is around 70ish, his grandkids were elementary age.

Anyway, he goes to use bathroom and oldest child goes too. As soon as they both go to the respective restrooms, the little autistic girl makes a break for the door and runs out.

I'm at the table closet to the door so I go out to get her. She refuses to stop so I grab the girl and fireman carry her back to the restaurant. Now at this point she is screaming hiting me and making this awful noise. I walk back in the store and everyone is staring at me. I ask the nearest person to bang on the men's room door to get the man out.
He comes out and before he says anything else he sternly demands that I put hos grandchild down.
I try to explain to him what happened and he stares at me like I was trying to steal his autistic grand daughter.

A lady explains it to him and he still doesn't thank me. Not that that is what I wanted.
He leaves with the kids, leaving the half eaten food. I see him smack the crap out of that girl as he was walking back to the car.

I felt bad for her. Obviously white trash, and just "off".

I talk to the lady who talked to him and she said "I wouldn't have gotten involved, touching kids these days can get you in trouble"

I just laughed that off.

I mean, had everyone just sat there and not reacted that poor kid would be gone or even ran over.

Guess I'm ranting, but at the same time dismayed that people just don't want to help when help is needed for fear of possible repercussions.



TLDR..

Kid ran out of Canes and I grabbed her but gramps wasn't happy, and then smacked the kid after it all said and done.