A former childcare worker in Connecticut has been arrested on suspicion of throwing a 2-year-old child against a wall, causing head injuries, according to reports.
According to FOX61, the director of the Town & County Early Learning Center in Middletown allegedly saw surveillance video of Kristy Kowalcik, 47, grabbing a child by the shirt and throwing the toddler on Jan. 12.
“We confirmed Mr. Kowalczyk’s incident through our internal camera surveillance system, immediately initiated an internal investigation, notified state authorities, and terminated the employee,” the day care center said in a statement to FOX61.
The child’s head hit a wall when he landed, according to an arrest warrant obtained by a local television station. Investigators reportedly observed a red bruise above the victim’s right eye.
Connecticut State Police say 1-year-old child dies after dog attack
Kristi Kowalczyk was charged with reckless endangerment resulting in minor bodily injury. (Middletown Police Department)
Kowalczyk told investigators that she had “kind of lost her cool” and found it difficult for her to deal with the children’s behavior. She called the classroom “chaotic,” and she said she didn’t feel like she had daycare support, according to FOX61.
Court documents obtained by PIX11 say the young child was launched “into the air like a piece of luggage.” The child flew about 6 feet before hitting the wall, prosecutors said.
Off-duty Connecticut police officer who hit a driver during a road rage incident keeps his job
Surveillance cameras reportedly captured the incident at a day care in Connecticut on January 12, 2024. (Armin Weigel/DPA via AP)
Kristi Kowalczyk reportedly told investigators that she was “losing her cool” and didn’t feel like she was getting support from the day care. (St. Petersburg)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Greenwich Time reports that investigators have traced back previously recorded surveillance footage showing Kowalczyk involved at least two other children, including forcibly shoving another child and lifting another child by the shirt. It is said that more incidents have been discovered.
Kowalczyk had been working at the daycare since 2019, but was fired shortly after the incident. She was arrested on February 26, and she was charged with risk of injury to a minor and reckless endangerment. She is scheduled to appear in court on April 2.
