Playtime at a Holly Springs daycare reportedly ended in handcuffs this week. A child care worker, identified in court records as Archana Singh, was arrested after a warrant alleges she grabbed a young boy on the playground, dragged him across the ground, and caused him to fall and strike his head. The incident was reported at a Children's Lighthouse center on Avent Ferry Road, and Singh is scheduled to return to Wake County court in June on a child abuse charge.
Warrant Describes Rough Handling on Playground
According to an arrest warrant cited by WRAL, Singh is accused of grabbing the boy by the arm, jerking him backward, and dragging him several feet on the daycare playground. The warrant says the child then fell and hit his head. Holly Springs police arrested Singh at the center, and she is charged with child abuse in connection with the alleged incident. The same warrant notes a June court date in Raleigh.
State Rules on Background Checks and Disqualification
North Carolina law requires criminal background checks and a qualification letter for anyone employed in licensed child care. The Division of Child Development and Early Education can disqualify workers who do not meet standards. Child care providers must notify the division and remove or terminate any disqualified staff member, and failure to follow those rules can trigger administrative action against the facility.
About the Facility
The center named in the warrant, Children's Lighthouse of Holly Springs, lists its Avent Ferry Road location and safety features such as secure keypad entry and age-appropriate playgrounds on its website. The public page also confirms the address and provides contact details for families on the center's site at Children's Lighthouse of Holly Springs.
Legal Next Steps
Holly Springs police booked Singh following her arrest, and she is set to appear in Wake County court in June, according to WRAL. Under North Carolina law, child abuse that results in serious bodily injury can be charged as a felony, with penalties that vary depending on the classification of the offense. Details are set out in N.C.G.S. §14‑318.4.
Investigation Continues
The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Holly Springs Police Department at its non-emergency line, (919) 557‑9111, as listed on the town's police page. Officials say additional details will be released through police records and court filings as the case moves forward.
