A 28-year-old Bellingham man is in custody after he allegedly punched a 4-month-old infant Sunday afternoon, police said.

The incident happened after a family left an eatery in the 200 block of East Holly Street.

According to police, the man stared at the family in a manner that made them feel uncomfortable.

Police said the man followed the family out of the restaurant, ran up from behind and punched the infant while in the arms of the mother.

The father and two witnesses chased down the man and detained him until police arrived.

When officers arrived at the scene, the man told police, “The devil made me hit the kid.”

The infant was taken to the hospital for treatment, and the condition is not known at this time.