Child abuse at daycare caught on tape

OLNEY - April 9, 2009 - (WPVI) -- A Philadelphia daycare worker is under arrest after police say she beat a one-year-old boy.

Investigators say the special victims unit received a report of possible abuse at a daycare Wednesday morning at around 11:00 a.m.

The one-year-old was complaining of pain in his side and could hardly walk.

His mother, Biana Lugo, took him to the hospital and staffers there called police.

Investigators went to the daycare in the 5600 block of North 5th Street, and reviewed video tape.

They say the tape shows that 32-year-old Serine Budd of Lawrence Street kicked, beat, and dragged the child, named Anthony.

"He was crying because of his leg, his leg was hurting. When I went to straighten his leg, he couldn't straighten it or bend it backwards," Lugo said.

Doctors put Anthony's leg in a splint.

Lugo says when she inquired about the injury, the manager offered to show her the tape. They not only watched Budd rough around three children, but another daycare worker comes in and picks up a fourth child in the same way.

Both women have been fired and police have charged Budd with simple assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

The daycare center's manger tells Action News that Budd has worked at the daycare center for about five years without any problems. Budd only had this to say when we asked her about the charges:

"No comment, sorry."

Budd was taken into custody and is charged with abusing a child.

"My son is a year old. If she didn't like her job as a teacher she shouldn't have worked there," Lugo said.

Lugo wasn't the only parent who's child was abused at the center.

Juanita Louis said daycare workers called her in to look at the tape after Lugo saw the video.

She couldn't believe she saw her daughter, Eva, being treated that way.

"Just to wake her up from a nap, when they could have done just like a normal person does and pick them up and wake them," Louis said.

Juanita Louis says her daughter now has bruises on her thighs and hips.

The owner of the Daycare Center, Crystal Brown, says her workers have12 hours of training even though they are only required to have six.

Brown says she took swift action in firing the two women involved, calling other parents to notify them of the incident and invite them to review the tapes.

Both of the parents Action News talked to have returned at least one of their children to the daycare center. They said they will take advantage of an opportunity to make unannounced visits to the center, and feel their kids are safe since the women in question have both been fired.

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local/state, erin o'hearn

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