LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- An employee of a Norton Commons daycare was arrested Friday afternoon in connection with the alleged assault of at least two infants there.
According to Officer Elizabeth Ruoff, a spokesperson for the Louisville Metro Police Department, 24-year-old Racheal Flannery is in custody. She is charged with three counts of first-degree Criminal Abuse.
The arrest is in connection with the alleged assault of at least two infants who were injured by Flannery, an employee of Vanguard Academy, located at 9306 Dayflower Street in Prospect.
Court documents obtained by WDRB News describe two alleged assaults — one against a 6-month-old and the other against a 7-month-old. Ruoff told WDRB News that Flannery was charged with three counts of child abuse, but police have not released information on the third case yet.
In the case of the 7-month-old, police said the incident took place on Sept. 28, and was captured on surveillance video. According to court documents, Flannery was seen repeatedly shoving a bottle into the child's mouth, before grabbing the child's head and squeezing it into her chest. She then "forcefully" put the victim in the crib and walked away, according to police.
Police said surveillance video then shows Flannery returning, picking the victim up, swinging the victim around and "forcefully" putting the child on the ground. She then can be seen forcing the bottle into the child's mouth and the child's head "can be seen shaking repeatedly on the video," according to court records. A moment later, police said she can be seen dropping the child on the floor.
According to court documents, the child was taken to Norton Children's Hospital, where it was determined that the child suffered a bruise to the left cheek and upper arm and a cut on the lip.
Police said she also "violently handled" a 6-month-old on the same date.
One of the alleged victims' family members has spoken with WDRB News, but at this time is choosing to remain anonymous. However, Alex White, a Louisville attorney at the law firm where one of the family members works, issued a statement on its behalf Friday afternoon.
"At this time our only concern is the well-being of their child," White wrote. "Due to over-night hospitalization the day of the attack and the severe emotional distress their family is experiencing, they are exhausted but relieved that they still have their child to hold. For the sake of privacy in this difficult time, the family wishes to remain anonymous for now.
"Unfortunately, we feel that information has been slow and incomplete coming from the daycare facility and therefore we still have more questions than answers about exactly what happened, why it happened and how it was possible for something like this to happen," White added. "We are stunned that Vanguard’s position is that the employee has been placed on an 'indefinite leave of absence' and not immediately terminated. We will come together to support our team member’s family in their immediate need and take fierce action in the future if justice so requires."
The daycare sent a non-specific email to parents on Thursday, saying they had reported an apparent incident on Wednesday to Child Protective Services and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
The text of the note is below:
"Parents,
It is with great sadness we are writing this email to inform you we have reported an apparent incident that occurred at The Vanguard Academy to the proper authorities. Investigative agencies including CPS and the LMPD are involved, and we are fully cooperating with them. We are notifying all families in our community so everyone will know of this matter. We are truly saddened this has happened at our center as our top priority is keeping your children safe.
Thank you,
The Vanguard Academy"
It's not the first time an incident of abuse was investigated at the daycare. According to documents obtained from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the state investigated a previous incident of alleged abuse during an inspection in Sept. 2021.
In that case, investigators said surveillance video recorded on Sept. 14, 2021, showed a staff member smacking a child. According to the inspection report, a child had a hand in his or her mouth, when the staff member smacked the child's hand and the child "immediately jumped and put their hands down." Later the same day, the staff member walked over to the child, while the child was lying on the floor, and grabbed the child by his or her left arm, lifting the child off the floor and spinning the child around in a 360-degree turn. The child then landed on the floor on his or her buttocks.
This story will be updated.
Related Stories:
Copyright 2022 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
