The incident happened on a Tuesday, and police went to the daycare the following week after the child’s parents reported it, according to the Grovetown Police Department. Investigators said they reviewed video footage of the fall. The child needed several stitches, police said.

The parents were told by the daycare’s director that the injury was an accident, according to police. The company said it was cooperating with the investigation and called children’s safety its highest priority. It also said it has zero tolerance for mistreatment and is reviewing the circumstances.

The case follows several investigations in recent years into staff members’ physical treatment of children at the center, state records show. Reports from 2021 through 2024 describe incidents that included children being handled aggressively and a child being left in a bathroom. In a September inspection, state officials found the daycare fully compliant, according to the records.

Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning oversees childcare licensing and investigates reports of possible violations. The department said it was investigating the latest incident and would determine whether the center violated safety rules. A state spokesperson said the circumstances would be examined, while emphasizing that children’s safety is the agency’s highest priority.

The allegations underscore the importance of transparent oversight and timely responses when families report harm in childcare settings. The criminal charge against the worker is an allegation, and the case will be handled through the legal process.