Twenty-five-year-old Arianna Ca'Pri Williams of Burnsville was charged* on May 2 with malicious punishment of a child in connection with an incident at an autism center located in Burnsville, Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena announced.
According to the criminal complaint, the Burnsville Police Department was contacted by the center's owner regarding a report of child abuse. Surveillance video provided to the officers by the center showed Ms. Williams forcefully push a three-year-old child. She continued to hurt the toddler by grabbing his arm and throwing him to the ground repeatedly. This was the first day Ms. Williams was allowed with children unsupervised.
The owner of the center immediately fired Ms. Williams after viewing the video footage.
“I'm horrified by the actions of Ms. Williams and I commend the owner with reporting this incident so promptly," said County Attorney Keena. “Child abuse is a very serious crime and it's everyone's responsibility to make sure it gets reported. If you suspect a child is getting abused, contact your county services agency, the local police or 911."
Keena thanked the Burnsville Police Department for their investigation of this incident.
Ms. Williams' next court appearance is June 20 in Hastings.
*Criminal charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant/suspect is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.