Childcare Workers Caught On Camera Taunting Child With Autism
In a shocking sequence of events, two childcare workers have now turned themselves into police custody after a video surfaced of them berating, taunting and throwing a backpack at an 8-year-old child with autism.
It all started on September 1, when Winter Haven PD found out about a Snapchat video showing 26-year-old Kaderrica Smith and then 19-year-old Alexis Henderson taunting, aggravating, yelling at and tripping a student at Our Children’s Academy.
The 8-year-old child is seen and heard in the video, crying and hiding underneath a table while Henderson and Smith continue to taunt him.
At one point in the video, you can see how the child tries to run towards one of the workers when she grabs his arms and sweeps his legs out from under him causing him to fall.
The video lasts for about three minutes and at one point shows one of the workers throwing a backpack at the child, hitting him in the face.
“There has to be an accountability measure for folks,” said Winter Haven Police Chief Charlie Bird.
“Especially when they’re supposed to be the professionals. They get hired as the professionals, they’re being paid as the professionals.”
In initial interviews, the two said that they felt they were acting appropriately and did absolutely nothing wrong. Henderson and Smith reportedly just received their certification for childcare last month.
“Those aren’t methods that you can even begin to defend as being used to defuse a situation with an autistic child,” said Bird.
Reports say that they were each immediately fired by the faculty and DCF placed a hold on their certifications.
The child was later interviewed by a DCF Child Protection Team member on September 15 and it was determined that the acts were criminal. Police were initially unable to locate the two, thus giving reason to issue a warrant for their arrest.
Polk officers checking listed address in Dundee for Alexis Henderson. Empty – no signs of the wanted childcare worker. @abcactionnews pic.twitter.com/X5C5hxjhfT
— Ryan Smith (@RyanReports) September 21, 2017
“These workers were supposed to be trained in how to handle children with behavioral issues,” said Bird.
“They are trained to deescalate situations, but that obviously did not happen.”
Kaderrica Smith is now being charged with Battery and Child Abuse while Alexis Henderson is being charged with Child Neglect.ABC Action News made several attempts to get
ABC Action News reportedly made several attempts to get comment from Our Children’s Academy, however the phone calls went unanswered and a worker at the front door said no one was available.
On Friday morning, Smith and Henderson, reportedly turned themselves into to police custody where they were booked into the Polk County Jail.
Henderson, who has been charged with Child Neglect has bonded out.
Smith, who faces charges of Child Abuse and Battery was reportedly held without bond. At her first appearance on Friday, Smith’s bond was set at $5,000 and the conditions include no contact with minors and also to stay away from the school.