PARAGOULD, Ark. — Authorities have charged a Greene County day care worker with second-degree battery, alleging she dragged a 3-year-old child across a turf play area by the ankles, resulting in multiple abrasions to the child's back and ribs.
Jayden Grider was arrested following the filing of an affidavit by Detective Lt. Jack Hailey of the Paragould Police Department. According to the affidavit, the alleged incident occurred on July 24 at an unnamed day care facility in Paragould. The Arkansas Crimes Against Children Division and the Paragould Police Department launched their investigation after receiving a hotline report on July 28 detailing injuries to the child.
The investigation revealed that the child had been placed in a timeout before reportedly beginning to hit themself. Investigators stated that Grider then allegedly grabbed the child’s ankles and dragged them toward her across the play area, causing abrasions along the child’s back and rib cage. Video evidence showed Grider sitting across from the child and reaching out from her position to pull the child to her, investigators said. Photographs from the case reportedly captured four distinct abrasions on the child.
During an interview, Grider admitted to dragging the child, according to the affidavit, and acknowledged being aware of the injuries but failing to report them to her supervisor as required. Following the investigation, the affidavit was submitted on July 27, and District Judge Curtis Hitt determined there was probable cause for Grider’s arrest.
Grider was charged with second-degree battery, a Class D felony. The court set her bond at $75,000, requiring it to be secured via surety, and imposed conditions barring her from contact with the child, witnesses, or others involved in the case.
All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.