A daycare worker at Kiddie Academy of Park Ridge is facing a felony charge after surveillance camera footage showed the employee striking a four-year-old child “multiple times,” according to the Park Ridge Police Department.
Olivia Cepeda, 29, of Glenview, was captured on video July 2 allegedly striking the child numerous times on their chest and stomach while the child was lying on the floor, according to a news release by the department.
Cepeda was taken into custody shortly following the incident, which was reported to Park Ridge police by the daycare director along with the child’s parent, police said.
The Cook County States Attorney’s Office has since charged Cepeda with one felony count of aggravated battery to a child under the age of 13 years old, per the press release.
Police said staff at Kiddie Academy, 109 S. Washington Ave., Park Ridge, are cooperating fully with the department’s investigation and provided the information needed to bring about formal charges against Cepeda.
Cepeda’s first court appearance was scheduled for July 7 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 105 at the Cook County Second District Courthouse in Skokie.
An arrest does not constitute a conviction.