Three women are facing aggravated child abuse and witness tampering charges after police say they were seen on video hitting young children and trying to hide the evidence. Rockledge police on Jan. 16 responded to the Gingerbread Manor Child Care facility over child abuse allegations after the Department of Children and Families received a tip saying, “All the teachers hit the children as forms of punishment.” The allegations included hitting with an open hand or wooden spoon, an arrest affidavit for Kia Kristen Walker said. When officers arrived at the child care facility, they spoke with Walker and asked to see video from the facility, which had cameras in many rooms. Walker declined and was defensive, the arrest affidavit says. Police took the camera system and obtained a warrant to get the video. On Feb. 4, police received the video, which showed the three women hitting young children. Walker, Stacy Elaine Hamilton Jackson and Nativia Latrice King were all arrested. According to Rockledge police, video between Dec. 19 and Jan. 16 shows several children being “hit, slapped and pulled in an aggressive manner” by Hamilton Jackson and King. Hamilton Jackson was seen in video on Jan. 16 entering the VPK class while “holding a large black colored spoon.”She approached a 3-year-old girl and hit her right leg with the spoon. When the girl didn’t follow directions, Hamilton Jackson’s arrest affidavit says she “willfully and aggressively swung the spoon,” hitting the girl in the neck, causing her to fall and cry.Hamilton Jackson then hit another child on the side of the head, causing him to fall.Walker’s arrest affidavit says the three women are also accused of trying to rip cables out of the camera system, not letting the kids be interviewed by police and hiding the items the kids said they were hit with.According to King’s arrest affidavit, video shows her on Dec. 19 “willfully and intentionally hitting multiple children in the back of the head, causing them to fall, hitting them in the face and pulling their ears.”At no point was King observed doing any activities or providing care for the children, her arrest affidavit says.Most children were between the ages of 1 and 4, police said. “The children had adapted to the violence of the day care, and they expected it as common behavior from the teachers,” the arrest affidavit says.Police said parents told them the suspects reached out to them or places of employment “to prevent them from making a statement.”The investigation is open and active. Families who believe their children may have been a victim of a crime while attending Gingerbread Manor Child Care are asked to contact Sgt. Natalia Turbeville at 321-690-3988.>> This is a developing story and will be updated
ROCKLEDGE, Fla. —
Three women are facing aggravated child abuse and witness tampering charges after police say they were seen on video hitting young children and trying to hide the evidence.
Rockledge police on Jan. 16 responded to the Gingerbread Manor Child Care facility over child abuse allegations after the Department of Children and Families received a tip saying, “All the teachers hit the children as forms of punishment.”
The allegations included hitting with an open hand or wooden spoon, an arrest affidavit for Kia Kristen Walker said.
When officers arrived at the child care facility, they spoke with Walker and asked to see video from the facility, which had cameras in many rooms.
Walker declined and was defensive, the arrest affidavit says.
Police took the camera system and obtained a warrant to get the video.
On Feb. 4, police received the video, which showed the three women hitting young children.
WESH 2 News
3 women facing child abuse charges in Central Florida
Walker, Stacy Elaine Hamilton Jackson and Nativia Latrice King were all arrested.
According to Rockledge police, video between Dec. 19 and Jan. 16 shows several children being “hit, slapped and pulled in an aggressive manner” by Hamilton Jackson and King.
Hamilton Jackson was seen in video on Jan. 16 entering the VPK class while “holding a large black colored spoon.”
She approached a 3-year-old girl and hit her right leg with the spoon. When the girl didn’t follow directions, Hamilton Jackson’s arrest affidavit says she “willfully and aggressively swung the spoon,” hitting the girl in the neck, causing her to fall and cry.
Hamilton Jackson then hit another child on the side of the head, causing him to fall.
Walker’s arrest affidavit says the three women are also accused of trying to rip cables out of the camera system, not letting the kids be interviewed by police and hiding the items the kids said they were hit with.
According to King’s arrest affidavit, video shows her on Dec. 19 “willfully and intentionally hitting multiple children in the back of the head, causing them to fall, hitting them in the face and pulling their ears.”
At no point was King observed doing any activities or providing care for the children, her arrest affidavit says.
Most children were between the ages of 1 and 4, police said.
“The children had adapted to the violence of the day care, and they expected it as common behavior from the teachers,” the arrest affidavit says.
Police said parents told them the suspects reached out to them or places of employment “to prevent them from making a statement.”
The investigation is open and active.
Families who believe their children may have been a victim of a crime while attending Gingerbread Manor Child Care are asked to contact Sgt. Natalia Turbeville at 321-690-3988.
>> This is a developing story and will be updated