A daycare owner in Texas was arrested after she allegedly held down two toddlers and forced one of them to bite the other on the arm while they were playing on the playground.
Jennifer Ann Garrett has been charged with injury to a child following the alleged incident that took place on August 26.
Garrett, 46, allegedly committed the crime at Gracious Beginnings Day Care in Hubbard, Texas, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit viewed by KWTX. She is reportedly the owner of the daycare.
After authorities became aware of the incident, officers viewed video evidence that showed Garrett “deliberately” placing her hand on the back of a 2-year-old girl’s head. She then allegedly pushed the girl’s head down and raised the other toddler girl’s arm before she forced her to bite the other girl between the wrist and her elbow.
“Garrett used her left hand to physically restrain Jane Doe #1’s right arm preventing Jane Doe #1 from being able to move her arm away from the pain from being bitten by Jane Doe #2,” police officers wrote in the affidavit.
The affidavit went on to state that the girl who bit the other toddler “took both of her hands up to the side of her own head as if she was upset,” per KWTX.
Authorities said that Garrett then “forcefully kept control” over the other girl’s arm and “briskly walked her to the other side of the playground.”
Several details of the incident have not yet come to light. The report did not state how authorities learned of the alleged assault or what happened between Garrett and the girls leading up to the attack. Additionally, it’s not currently clear if the bite broke the girl’s skin or if she sustained any other injuries.
The incident is currently being investigated by police and the Department of Family and Protective Services, according to the outlet.
Garrett was arrested on September 15, nearly three weeks after the incident took place, and was taken into custody at the Hill County Jail. She has since been released after she posted bond.
If Garrett is convicted, she may face up to 10 years in prison on the third-degree felony.
It’s not currently clear if Garrett has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest. The City of Hubbard Police Department did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment regarding updates in the case.
