Day Care Worker Accused Of Dragging, Throwing Child Charged

A day care worker has been charged after surveillance video appeared to show her dragging a 3-year-old girl and throwing her across the room, according to police.

The North County Police Cooperative, which serves seven municipalities in north Saint Louis county, said the worker, identified by cops as Wilma Brown, 27, was formally charged with abuse of a child on Thursday.

Police said Brown was arrested Friday afternoon inside the residence of an associate. According to police, Brown was found hiding in a basement closet.

The incident took place at Brighter Day Care and Preschool in Pine Lawn, a suburb of St. Louis.

The 3-year-old girl suffered a serious head injury that required seven stitches, according to police and news reports.

Police also arrested a second worker, identified as Ariana Silver, with abuse of a child that stemmed from another incident that took place at the same facility. According to police, the incident involved a 4-year-old boy and was also captured on surveillance video.

Jennifer Hansen, an attorney hired by the family of the 3-year-old girl, told KTVI the day care waited five days to watch the footage and allowed the worker accused of throwing the girl to continue employment during that time.

An unintentional injury form filled out by workers at Brighter Day Care and Preschool and obtained by news station KTVI described the girl's injuries as a bump on the head when she fell onto a carpet. The form also said 911 was called and that a dispatcher told the workers not to put an ice pack on the girl.

Dan Hampton contributed to this report.