Daycare worker accused of body-slamming 3-year-old child into cot
ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) - A Georgia daycare worker was fired after authorities say she body-slammed a 3-year-old child under her care.
Deputies with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office say security footage appears to show daycare worker Samantha Hertzog kicking a cot that a 3-year-old child was sleeping on, picking up the child and slamming them back into the cot.
The incident reportedly happened March 21 at Big Blue Marble Academy in Bailey Station, according to WANF.
Deputies say Hertzog was charged with first-degree cruelty to children March 26. She was taken to the Coweta County Jail.
The daycare said Hertzog was fired and released the following statement:
The safety and well-being of the young children in our care is our number one priority. Therefore, we were shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the allegations against our former employee. As soon as we were made aware, we acted swiftly to report the incident to local authorities and conduct an internal investigation, which resulted in the immediate termination of their employment. We have zero tolerance for the mistreatment of the children within our care and will continue to cooperate with local law enforcement and licensing authorities as the investigation continues.
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