Pasco Day Care Worker Accused of Kicking Toddler in Head

A Pasco County day care worker has been arrested and charged with child abuse after the mother of a 16-month-old girl said her daughter had bruises on her body when she picked her up from a Holiday day care center Saturday afternoon.

The mother called authorities after discovering her daughter’s bruises, according to deputies.

The police report listed the injuries on the girl as an abrasion underneath her eye and another on the left side of her face.

According to deputies, surveillance video from inside the daycare shows a 49-year-old daycare employee intentionally kicking the girl once on the top of the head. The video goes on to show the woman scraping her foot along the left side of the girl’s face. A short time later, deputies allege the woman kicked the child on the buttocks.

The woman, who lives in Tarpon Springs and has worked at the center for four years, was fired. The woman denied kicking the child on the head and had no explanation for kicking her in the buttocks when questioned by police.

The woman was released on bail on Sunday. The woman has four children of her own and no incidents on her record. However, investigators plan to look at other surveillance video from the daycare to see if anything like this has happened before.

Injuries at daycare facilities can range from minor accidents that will heal over time to serious injuries and sometimes death. Sadly, when looking at these types of cases, the underlying problem is usually connected to daycare negligence where the fault lies with caregivers failing to act appropriately. When these incidents do occur, fortunately, the civil justice system can help provide accountability and compensation for victims and family members.

No one is more vulnerable than an innocent child. For this reason, it is vital that day care providers act responsibly and keep children secure and free from harm. Lack of supervision is the leading cause of daycare injuries. The issue of supervision is often caused by inadequate staffing. If there are not enough adults watching a group of children, or if the adults watching the children are behaving negligently, the odds are that an accident will occur, whether intentional or unintentional.

If you or a loved one has been hurt at a daycare facility, it is important to understand how the law applies to your case. Both victims and their families can possibly recover financial compensation for damages suffered because of daycare negligence. A Pasco County Injury Lawyer at Whittel & Melton can help. Call us today at 727-847-2299 or contact us online for a free consultation to learn about how we can help you.