A couple let their domestic dispute spill out into the public on Monday when they engaged in a tug-of-war over their baby on Longgang Road in Shenzhen, according to Southern Metropolis Daily.

At around 11 a.m. the couple were seen fighting over the baby next to Heao bus stop in Shenzhen’s Henggang District and shouting “Let go he’s mine!” and “Don’t steal my baby.”

The couple had just emerged from the court where they were filing for divorce. The man, surnamed Li, walked away with the baby, but the woman, surnamed Zhang, sneaked up behind and stole his I.D. card from his pocket.

During the ensuing fight, both fell to the ground and smashed their glasses. Blood came out of Li’s nose and he shouted “Call the police!” at onlookers. Zhang shouted, “Don’t call the police, the baby’s mine.”

Li’s smashed glasses

Zhang fled when she saw an onlooker dialling on his mobile phone.

Li, with blood on his clothes, explained that he and his wife both came from Sichuan and had been married for more than 10 years, according to witnesses.

They live in Henggang District and also have a 10 year-old daughter, said Li.

Zhang turning her back on a photographer

They had been discussing separating, but Zhang demanded 500,000 yuan in the event of a divorce.

Later, Zhang was seen 50 meters away, behind a sign at Heao bus stop. She berated onlookers for taking photographs of her undiginified situation.

With tears in her eyes, she said she wanted a divorce because Li was cheating on her. Li then berated her and they had another war of words.

When police arrived, the couple assured officer Chen Qing that they would sort it out between them. After giving them a warning, the officer let them go.

Policeman Chen Qing arrives at the scene

When deciding custody, Chinese courts do not favour either the father or the mother, but consider what’s best for the child, according to China Law Blog.