A Lake City daycare worker is behind bars after surveillance video allegedly showed her tossing and shaking an infant in her care, leaving the baby hospitalized with severe brain injuries. Authorities say the child was first taken to a local hospital, then transferred to a pediatric facility in Gainesville, where the infant remains in intensive care. The arrest has rattled parents across the small Columbia County community.
Video review reveals multiple incidents
Detectives who pulled the security footage say what they found was not a one-time lapse but a series of disturbing encounters in the week leading up to the child’s medical emergency. According to the arrest report, video from April 20 shows the worker forcefully tossing the infant into a bouncy chair so hard that the baby’s head hit a metal bar. The report also describes the worker “snatching” the child from a crib and dropping her onto a changing table, causing the baby’s head to bounce several times.
Footage from April 13 reportedly shows more rough handling. Investigators say the video captures the worker striking the back of a seat, shaking the infant’s arm “very hard,” smacking the baby’s legs and kicking the seat that held the child. Those actions are detailed in an arrest report obtained by TV20 and reported by WCJB.
Medical findings and current condition
A doctor cited in the report told investigators the infant suffered a skull fracture, detached retinas, bleeding behind the eyes and significant bleeding on the brain. The doctor concluded that the physical abuse captured on the security footage caused those injuries.
The infant was initially taken to HCA Florida Lake City Hospital and was later transferred to a pediatric hospital in Gainesville, where the child remained in the pediatric intensive care unit at the time of the worker’s arrest. Those medical details are outlined in the arrest report, according to News4JAX.
Daycare responds
Wee Care Too told families on Facebook that the employee is no longer on staff and that the center contacted the Department of Children and Families and law enforcement as soon as the incident came to light. The facility said the worker had been employed there for about three months and that a previous employer had provided a “very strong recommendation,” according to reporting by WCJB.
In its message to parents, the center added, “we are here, we are listening, and we are committed to doing what is right—for your children and for our community.”
Arrest and investigation
Columbia County booking records list 30-year-old Alyssa Thompson as having been arrested on May 4 on a charge of aggravated child abuse. She is being held without bond. Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler called the case “deeply disturbing” and said investigators are committed to holding those responsible accountable.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lake City Police Department at 386-752-4343, the LCPD tips line at 386-719-2068 or Crime Stoppers of Columbia County at 386-754-7099, according to News4JAX.
Legal note
Under Florida law, aggravated child abuse, which can include willfully torturing a child or knowingly abusing a child and causing great bodily harm, is defined in section 827.03 and is treated as a felony of the first degree. First-degree felonies are punishable as provided in section 775.082. State penalty provisions generally allow for prison terms of up to 30 years and statutory fines, depending on the conviction and any applicable enhancements.
Readers can review the specific statutory language and penalties in the Florida Statutes: s. 827.03 and s. 775.082. Anyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
The case remains under active investigation, and the daycare center says it is cooperating with detectives, Action News Jax reported. Parents who have immediate concerns about childcare facilities can contact the Florida Department of Children and Families for licensing and safety information. Local outlets say they plan to update coverage as new documents or court filings become available.
