Daycare Worker Charged With Dragging Child, Causing Injuries

An 18-year-old worker at A World of Hope Daycare in Grovetown was taken into custody this week, accused of partially dislocating a child’s elbow while she was being dragged across the floor.

Grovetown Police Chief Jamey Kitchens says the incident happened March 24 at the daycare at 671 E. Robinson Avenue, but police weren’t made aware of it until two days later.

The suspect, identified as Jayla Roberts, has been terminated since the four-year-old child told the assistant director at the daycare that her arm hurt. The child’s parents were then notified.

“The assistant director advised the parent that per daycare protocol, she had reviewed surveillance footage at which time she observed an employee, Ms. Jayla Roberts, dragging the child across the floor by her wrist before picking her up off of the floor by both wrists,” Kitchens said.

The child’s parent was given a copy of the surveillance video and was told Roberts had been terminated.

“The parent then transported the child to a local medical facility, where upon examination it was determined that the child had suffered a Radial Head Subluxation (partially dislocated elbow).” Kitchens said.

Roberts was interviewed by authorities at the Grovetown Police Department on Thursday, March 27, and was charged with Cruelty to Children in the First Degree.

She was taken to the Columbia County Detention Center.

Kitchens said video footage of the incident can’t be released at this time, due to the ongoing investigation.