An investigation involving an abuse allegations at a local daycare is underway in Winamac after a video emerged on social media last week, according to a press release from the Winamac Police Department.
A text was sent out to parents of students at the school announcing the closing of Kingdom Kids Daycare the following day of the video leak, on September 22. With further research on social media and by calling the school and speaking with several parents, GIANT fm WROI news reporter Shelby Lopez confirmed the school is in fact closed for good.
The Winamac Police Department press release stated the completed case report had been sent to the Pulaski County Prosecutor's office as of Tuesday, September 26, to review for criminal charges.
The report was officially made September 21, two weeks after the incident had taken place, when Officer Shelby Pickens had been made aware of the circulating video that now has almost 79,000 views.
The video taken inside Kingdom Kids Daycare and Preschool located at Winamac Church of the Nazarene. The video showed a child grabbing on to a man's leg, while the man had another child on his shoulders.
After telling the child on his leg to let go multiple times and the child refusing, the man is seen kneeling on the child's chest until he let go. The child then laid on the floor by himself crying until the end of the video as the man walked away.
The child, as well as the child's mother, was later identified and told investigators that the child had not been treated for any injuries, but had cried on the floor for about 10 minutes afterwards. Although no serious injuries were made, the child was said to be emotionally traumatized from the event and 'scared to go back to daycare.'
The man was later identified as the pastor of the Winamac Church of the Nazarene, and he interviewed with police voluntarily. The Winamac Police Department also said the Winamac Church of the Nazarene, as well as the owners, have been cooperative throughout the investigation.
Indiana Department of Child Services has also been contacted and is doing their own independent inquiry, with the cooperation of the Winamac Police Department.
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