Three employees of a Delaware Day Care have been accused of encouraging young children to fight each other while the children were in their care.
Tiana Harris, 19, Lisa Parker, 47, and Estefania Myers, 21, employees of the Hands of Our Future Daycare in Dover, were arrested after a mobile phone video emerged of them allegedly encouraging two three year old children to fight an organized battle.
Police said that in the video a child is heard shouting: "He pinched me!" A day care worker allegedly replied: "No pinching, only punching".
"It was a difficult video to watch," said Dover Police Capt. Tim Stump. "One of the participating children ran to one of the adults for protection, but she turned him back into the fight."
The video was taken in March, Stump said. Two of the suspects could be seen encouraging the fight, while the other recorded it with her camera phone, Stump said.
Stump said none of the children suffered serious injuries, but said it was "painfully clear that they were hurting."
"The end result is that children were whaling on each other and the adults were doing nothing to stop it," Stump said. "In fact, they were encouraging it."
Parents of children in the day care went to a meeting on Monday and were informed about the alleged video. Stump said parents were concerned, but congratulated them on their composure.
"It is very disturbing to think something like this could go on," said Amy Bickerling, whose four-year-old son is enrolled in the center. "I know these teachers. I'm went with them on all trips. I’ve never seen anything irregular.”
Stump said a full investigation is underway. There is no evidence to suggest these fights happened more than once, but authorities will conduct interviews with some of the students, he said.
He called the suspects "cooperative" and said they paid the $10,000 bail.
The three women were charged with assault, endangering the welfare of a child, reckless endangering and conspiracy.
