A Suwanee daycare worker is facing a felony cruelty to children charge after authorities said her employer saw her hurt a child on surveillance tape earlier this month.
Suwanee Police Capt Shane Edmisten said the child's parent thought the victim had been injured by another child at Legacy Academy and she asked the owner to review footage from the surveillance camera in the classroom.
"Upon reviewing the video, the owner of Legacy Academy witnessed the injuries were actually caused by an employee, a classroom daycare worker," said Edmisten.
The tape reportedly shows Alexandra Maddock, a 22 year old from Suwanee, nudging the child while he slept on a mat on the floor. When the child did not wake up immediately, Maddock grabbed the child by the arms, with her hands around the biceps, picking the child up and sitting him down before walking away, returning and picking the child up in the same manner again, Edmisten said.
"Where she picked the child up was in relation to where the injuries were. Watching the video it was apparent the injuries on the inside of the child's biceps were caused by the daycare worker's fingernails."
The child was upset and taken in to the bathroom, Edmisten said, when another worker came in to the classroom, found the child and calmed him down.
After reviewing the tapes, Edmisten said the owner of the business immediately called Bright From the Start, a state agency for daycare centers, and reported her own business for investigation. She contacted the mother and said she planned to terminate the employee.
Edmisten said Suwanee Police got involved when the mother filed a police report the next day.
The owner is cooperating with the police investigation and Edmisten said the employee has been separated from the business. After securing a warrant for Maddock, she turned herself in.
Edmisten said the child is ok.
