Director of Florida daycare accused of dropping, hitting child

The director of a Florida daycare center has been arrested on charges of battering a 4-year-old child after video footage showed her lifting the child into the air and dropping him face down.

According to a Clermont police report, the video, also shows Kimberly Marie Reid, 41, hitting the boy and beating him with stuffed animals. 

In her arrest affidavit, Reid told police that the video, which WOFL-TV reports was filmed by another employee at the daycare, "is not what it appears to be." She went on to say that the reason she hit the child with the stuffed animals was because "she plays rough with him." When she lifted the child in the air and dropped him face down, she claims she was also playing rough. 

According to the Orlando Sentinel, a state child-protective investigator told police that "the abuse occurred over a three-week period without regard for the [child's] safety or mental health."

Following Reid's arrest, the owner of the daycare has agreed to close the facility, state Department of Children and Family spokesman David Ocasio said. 

Reid was currently serving a four year probation sentence stemming from a 2013 grand theft and organized fraud charge.

She pleaded guilty to food stamp fraud of $200 or more in 2004. Based on Orange County court records, she was sentenced to five years probation and was ordered to complete 150 hours of community service. 

According to Ocasio, Reid was supposed to report her probation to the Department of Children and Family, but never did. 

Contact Caitlin Lilly at clilly@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @caitielilly_