ORLANDO, Fla. -- An off-duty corrections officer in Florida was charged with attacking a costumed Scooby Doo character for no apparent reason at Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, according to police.

Witnesses told police that when a Scooby Doo character at the park bent down to take a picture with Eddie Bronson's child Friday, Bronson allegedly grabbed the front of his costume and pulled him down.

The character began to shake his head and his arms to try to free himself of Bronson's grip, according to the report.

When the character walked away to greet other guests, the incident escalated, police said.

"At one point there is a witness who indicates he used a closed fist and struck the back of the character," Orlando police spokeswoman Barabara Jones said. "Mr. Bronson, according to some independent witnesses, go fairly aggressive with the character."

Universal officials told police there was some damage to the costume and the character suffered a headache.

"I don't know what the motivation was," Jones said. "We believe we had probable cause to charge with Mr. Bronson with misdemeanor battery so we did."

Witnesses and the victim said they believe Bronson's alleged strikes were an effort to hurt the character and not part of taking photographs.

"I think people need to remember that these characters are there for the children," Jones said. "They are there for adults but they are not there to be abused.

Bronson claims that after the photo he was trying to pet the character on top of the head and then left the park without incident.

"Police don't buy it and made an arrest," Local 6 News reporter Jessica D'Onofrio said.

Bronson, who is a corrections officer in Hillsborough County, bonded out of jail.

Officials said the case is with the state attorney's office.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.