RAYTOWN, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been charged with child abuse after he told police he held a child by the neck and threatened to kill him, according to court documents.

Michael Gaines, 34, has been charged with felony child abuse.

On May 19, Raytown officers were dispatched to home in the 8900 block of E. 72nd Street. The caller said a man, who he identified as Gaines, was choking a child and leaving the scene.

A police officer followed the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The officer asked Gaines to step out of the vehicle and placed him in handcuffs.

According to court documents, Gaines then said, “I did grab (the victim). I did grab (the victim).”

The officer saw the victim in the front seat and saw the victim’s neck was red.

Gaines later told police he was arguing with the person who called 911 over a vehicle. According to court documents, Gaines told police he held the child by the neck, but he said he didn’t choke the child. Gaines said he threatened to kill the child, but it was “a spur of the moment thing,” and by the time he left he was “done with that,” according to court documents.

Court documents state Gaines told police he lifted the child and told the 911 caller, “See what you made me do? You are making me kill (the child) and kill myself.” The caller told Gaines not to hurt the child. Gaines told police he then realized what he was doing and put the child down.