Inset: De’Neishia Garner (Alachua County Jail). Background: O2b Kids in Gainesville, Florida (Google Maps).
A Florida day care worker was arrested after she allegedly shook a playhouse so violently that a 4-year-old boy fell headfirst to the ground.
De’Neishia Garner, 30, is charged with aggravated child abuse, records show. The Alachua Chronicle obtained an arrest report that detailed the incident, which occurred shortly before noon Monday at O2B Kids in Gainesville. According to the affidavit, the boy climbed to the top of an outside playhouse. Garner reportedly shook the apparatus, causing the boy to fall off. Apparently unhurt, the boy got up and walked away.
But minutes later, the boy climbed atop the playhouse again. Garner allegedly walked back over and began “violently” shaking it. This time, the boy fell backward and flipped onto his head down to the concrete about five feet below. His injuries were more serious. He split his head open, the affidavit reportedly said.
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The boy was rushed to the emergency room, where he reportedly received nine stitches in his head. Doctors also performed brain scans to see if there was any internal damage. According to cops, the whole incident was captured on surveillance video.
Post Miranda, Garner admitted to shaking the playhouse. She said she was trying to warn the boy not to climb that high. She reportedly told the boy, “we keep our feet on the ground,” before shaking it.
Cops took her to the Alachua County Jail, where she has since bonded out. Officers reportedly wrote in the affidavit that the regional manager of the company was present at the time of the incident and fired Garner on the spot. A representative from the company did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
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