Florida daycare worker arrested after toddler found on highway

YEAR, A MODERN RECORD FOR THE STATE. A CENTRAL FLORIDA DAYCARE WORKER IS NOW FACING CHARGES AFTER POLICE SAY A TODDLER ESCAPED AND RAN INTO THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY. THANKFULLY, THE LIGHT WAS RED AND THAT LITTLE BOY IS OKAY. THIS HAPPENED AT FRUITLAND PARK, 15 MINUTES SOUTH OF THE VILLAGES. BODY CAMERA VIDEO SHOWS OFFICERS ARRIVING TO THE DAYCARE AFTER ONE WITNESS PICKED UP THE TWO YEAR OLD. AT FIRST, THE EMPLOYEE, IDENTIFIED AS HALLIE RUSSO, SAYS THE GATE WAS UNLOCKED AND CLAIMED HE DIDN’T GET FAR. THE OFFICER NOTICED THE LOCK ON THE DOOR AND ASKED HER AGAIN, AND THAT’S WHEN RUSSO TOLD THE OFFICER SHE LIED BECAUSE HER BOSS TOLD HER TO. AFTER CONFIRMING THAT THE CHILD WAS SOLELY IN RUSSO’S CARE, SHE WAS ARRESTED. LOOK AT ME, MA’AM. THAT CHILD WAS FOUND IN THE MEDIAN. THE MEDIAN OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DAYCARE DID NOT ADDRESS THE

Updated: 6:26 AM EDT Jun 20, 2026

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A daycare worker in Fruitland Park, Florida, was arrested after a 2-year-old boy escaped from the facility and ran into the middle of a highway, police said. The incident occurred at a daycare located 15 minutes south of The Villages. Body camera footage shows officers arriving at the daycare after a witness picked up the toddler. Initially, the daycare employee, identified as Halee Russo, told officers the gate was unlocked and claimed the child did not get far. When an officer noticed the lock on the door and questioned her again, Russo admitted she had lied because her boss instructed her to do so. After confirming that the child was solely in Russo’s care, officers arrested her. “Crying and just look at me, look at me, look at me, ma’am, that child was found in the median. The median of the highway,” an officer said. The daycare has not addressed Russo’s claim that her boss asked her to provide a false account of the incident. Police confirmed the child is safe, and no injuries were reported.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. —

A daycare worker in Fruitland Park, Florida, was arrested after a 2-year-old boy escaped from the facility and ran into the middle of a highway, police said.

The incident occurred at a daycare located 15 minutes south of The Villages. Body camera footage shows officers arriving at the daycare after a witness picked up the toddler.

Initially, the daycare employee, identified as Halee Russo, told officers the gate was unlocked and claimed the child did not get far. When an officer noticed the lock on the door and questioned her again, Russo admitted she had lied because her boss instructed her to do so.

After confirming that the child was solely in Russo’s care, officers arrested her.

“Crying and just look at me, look at me, look at me, ma’am, that child was found in the median. The median of the highway,” an officer said.

The daycare has not addressed Russo’s claim that her boss asked her to provide a false account of the incident.

Police confirmed the child is safe, and no injuries were reported.

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