Paragould, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – A local day care worker faces a felony charge after state officials and law enforcement investigated an incident that left a 3-year-old child with injuries.
Jayden Grider, of Paragould, has been charged with second-degree battery, a Class D felony, according to an affidavit filed in Greene County District Court.
The investigation began July 28 after the Paragould Police Department and Arkansas Crimes Against Children received a hotline report regarding a child injured at a local day care facility.
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According to the affidavit, the child had been placed in time-out and began striking himself. Grider then allegedly grabbed the child by the ankles and dragged him a short distance across an artificial turf play area.
Surveillance video from the facility depicts Grider sitting across from the child—who was seated next to an assigned teacher—before reaching over, grabbing his ankles, and pulling him across the turf to her location.
Photographs of the victim revealed “pretty extensive abrasions,” showing four scrape marks along the child’s back and ribcage area.
During an interview with investigators, Grider acknowledged pulling the child by his ankles to her position. She also admitted she was aware of the child’s injuries but failed to report the incident to her supervisor, court documents state.
Under Arkansas law, second-degree battery includes knowingly causing physical injury to a child 12 years of age or younger without legal justification.
A Greene County judge found probable cause for Grider’s arrest on Thursday, setting her bond at $75,000. As a condition of her release, Grider is ordered to have no contact with the victim, witnesses, or others involved in the case.
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