Gary Probst

[WORRIED]

Anyone know anything about this guy. He picked up a child out of a shopping cart at Wal-Mart in Vandalia Thursday evening. He was arrested for disorderly conduct. He lives on Bond.

[goodegg]

Yes, actually I know him quite well. He is really harmless and means well. My understanding is that the child was crying and he tried consoling the child and when he left the child was calm and gave him a high 5!
Gary sometimes doesn't understand that nowdays, a person just doesn't pick up a child, even to console them. Gary really means well and loves kids ( in a good way and was just trying to do something nice).
My understanding is that the local police just talked to him and gave him a warning and told him not to do it again and Gary left to go to another
restaurant to eat. Police cars arrived and handcuffed and arrested him.

I am not condoning what he did, but honestly he is not dangerous or was trying to hurt the child in any way. Gary just doesn't seem to understand boundaries sometimes.
Due to a couple other incidences ( not with children) I really think that the Vandalia police is trying to "run him out of town" as one of them said. They are really keeping an eye on him.

[goodegg]

Is there a place on the internet where arrests such as this can be seen since it is public record?

[Worried]

The child was not laughing, he was terrified and he did not give Gary a high five. Gary also wanted to take the child's photo..what is that about.??? The police came and arrested him AFTER they reviewed the surveillance tape's at
Wal-Mart. The starnge thing is the restaurnt he went to eat in, was the same one the family and the child had went to eat in. They had been there about 15 minute's when Gary walked in.
COINCIDENCE ??? I THINK NOT.....
You may think he is harmless but I do not..And if he even look's at THAT child again it could be a serious mistake. He BETTER learn some boundaries.

[Worrynot]

Worried, it sound as if you have got caught up with the Fayette County Gossip. Goodegg has it correct, Sad thing is Gary has faught the system, what a miss use of power. He has appeared to have ruffled some feathers in this town.

Not to worry the Wal-mart tape will show the truth once in court.

[Not Worried]

Wow. Some people judge without knowing. I have known Gary for many years.(like 40). I am a mom of three kids that have been exposed to Gary periodically throughout their lives. They are teenagers now and have NEVER been in any kind of danger when around him. He loves (in a good and safe way) kids. He has always had a hard time seeing kids cry or be unhappy. It is very common for him to try to comfort (in a good way) or entertain a child who is discontent. He has a heart for kids and there is NO WAY that he meant any harm at Wal-Mart that day. I agree that he needs to set boundaries, but it is very sad that we live in a society today that "strangers" are assumed to be bad.

[Vandalia]

I work at Wal-Mart where this happened. I heard the child crying for a while. It was an employees' grandchild. The child finally stopped crying. I found out later that Gary consoled the child until the grandmother asked for him back. There was no disturbance whatsoever, and the child went out happy.

[Vandalia]

I also work at Wal-mart as a greeter. I was working when this happened. I noticed a child crying. He stopped crying for a while and then the grandmother left the store carrying him out. The grandmother and grandchild both left happy. No one was upset.

[Time for truth]

I feel prompted to clear up a few things about these posts. It is amazing how facts can become so distorted. It is time for truth!

1) Be clear that Gary Probst was only trying to comfort a child who was crying. That is all there is to it! Is there really a crime in that? It used to be (and still today in some cases) that such an act of compassion would be appreciated.

2) Goodegg was pretty "right on" with most comments, however again, heresay indicated that Gary was handcuffed and that was not true.
There we no handcuffs involved. Aother false rumor.

3) Gary has never in his life been suspected or accused of attempting any harm to children. Honestly, in his own funny way, he relates to kids and finds delight in making them laugh by distracting them from their common toddler draumatic outbursts. As adults when we are having a tough day, do we not appreciate kind words or actions from friends or even stangers? In today's world if someone does something nice, do we first suspect that they have an ulterior evil motive? Have you ever been on the verge of tears and some stranger detected your distress and gave you encouraging words in passing? I know that I have and I like to see those people as the "good in the world" who are willing to make a difference.

4) Regarding the comment about the camera.
Gary was just trying to get the child to "smile" and distract his crying by letting the child play with a camera that Gary had just purchased. Now folks are accusing Gary of "taking pictures on the child?!?!There were NO pictures taken. Kind of ridiculous when you think about it isn't it?
Another innocent act misconstrued!

5) It is absurd that this whole situation has been so blown out of porportion. The untrue allogations and accusations regarding this situation need to be corrected! I hope that anyone reading this or hearing about this situation will understand the TRUTH and stop the unwarranted and untrue gossip.
IT IS SO VERY SAD THAT KIND PEOPLE DOING KIND ACTS BECOME SUSPECTS.

[Worry not]

Judge dropped this case in the preliminary hearing, lack of evidence. Wal-mart tape showed proof in Garry's favor.

[Justice]

Hmmm. I guess there was no reason to be worried. What a shame that our court system had to waste time and money on something that was blown way out of proportion. Gary was just being a "good neighbor" and trying to help a child who was unhappy. I'm so glad the truth wss told. All charges were dropped, and it's a shame that they were ever made to begin with. In my opinion, someone owe's Gary an apology, and the taxpayers, too, for wasting all this time and money in court for something that was unneccessary.

[One Who Knows]

After reading and hearing about this unfortunate incident, I feel compelled to respond. I have known Gary Probst for approximately 5 years. NEVER would he harm a child - NEVER! He is a community-minded person, who is there to assist whenever the need arises. He comes from a close-knit family and is a well-intentioned individual. Shame to all those gossipmongers and those who have judged without viewing the incident in the larger context. Ultimately, justice was served. I also question the police' role and wonder if they truly acted in a responsible, unbiased manner.