COVINGTON, Ky. -- Authorities have charged a former childcare worker with child abuse, according to Covington police.
Sheila Sandmann, 63, of Taylor Mill, is accused of inappropriately grabbing and handling an 8-month-old girl on Aug. 26 at Chapman Child Care Center, police said.
The girl was briefly hospitalized and Sandmann was fired after the incident, according to police and Covington Independent Public Schools superintendent Alvin Garrison.
The girl was not seriously injured, but she did have "visible swelling on her arm," according to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center officials.
The girl's parents filed a police report the day after the incident, Capt. Brian Valenti wrote in a news release.
Three days later, parents of Chapman attendees received a letter from Garrison, who wrote:
"While legally the district is not at liberty to discuss details of this matter, we can say that immediate action was taken. The incident was promptly reported to the Cabinet for Families and Children. The person who was said to be involved is no longer employed by Covington Independent Public Schools."
Garrison added the district had met with the child's parents and "assured them that their concerns were heard." His letter only mentioned an incident and did not include information about the alleged assault.
The Chapman Child Development Center is part of Covington Independent Public Schools. According to its website, it cares for children of teen parents and employees of Covington Independent Schools.
