Day care worker accused of pushing and dragging 3-year-old over spilled milk

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT/Gray News) - Police in Arkansas say a day care worker has been arrested after a video showed her pushing and dragging a 3-year-old child who was in her care.

The reported incident happened on Sept. 26 at Miracle Kids Daycare on Stillwater Drive.

According to Jonesboro police, the child’s father told them that he received a phone call from the day care regarding an incident involving his 3-year-old child and a worker, later identified as 30-year-old Elisabeth Gates.

Detective Madison Dobbs said that video footage from inside the classroom showed Gates snatching the child by the left arm after she had spilled some milk and dragged her to the corner of the room.

When the girl tried to get up and walk away, Dobbs said the video showed Gates pushing the child down to the floor.

The detective noted in an affidavit that the child had “redness and bruising” on her forearm.

On Wednesday, Craighead County District Court Judge David Boling found probable cause to charge Gates with second-degree battery and set her bond at $7,500.

Gates is scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 14.