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A security guard has been captured on camera firing a Taser stun gun at a man carrying his newborn child.

Hospital security guard, David Boling resorted to the extreme action to prevent William Lewis from taking his baby daughter home from the Woman's Hospital of Texas in Houston.

The stun gun sent both man and child crashing to the floor, leaving the child with head trauma, according to Mr Lewis.

The incident began when Mr Lewis, 30, told hospital staff that he intended to leave with his child because his family had been mistreated.

He was told that doctors would not allow it, but Mr Lewis picked up the baby and walked to the elevators regardless.

The elevators would not move because wristband sensors on babies at the hospital automatically shut down the system if anyone attempts to take an infant without permission.

The surveillance video shows Mr Boling arriving at the elevators and trying to talk with Mr Lewis.

Mr Lewis appears agitated as he walks around the elevators holding his daughter in his right arm.

Within 40 seconds Mr Boling is holding the Taser and about a minute later, he can be seen standing near Mr Lewis, not looking in his direction, when he suddenly raises the Taser and fires it at Mr Lewis, who was still holding his daughter.

Mr Lewis drops to the floor, however this can not be seen in the surveillance footage.

Child Protective Services (CPS) has custody of the baby because of a history of domestic violence between Mr Lewis and his wife, Jacqueline Gray.

Mr Lewis said he thinks his baby has been disabled from the incident, but a CPS Agency spokeswoman stated that the infant does not appear to be suffering any ill effects from the fall.

© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.