Mobile County Daycare Worker Charged with Child Abuse After Alleged Incident Involving 3-Year-Old

Mobile County, AL (BuzzReport)—A Mobile County daycare worker is facing a felony child abuse charge after authorities say a 3-year-old child was allegedly subjected to violent and aggressive treatment while in her care.

According to a criminal complaint, Rossilynn Harris, 70, of Coden, is accused of physically mishandling the young child during an incident that allegedly occurred on June 4 at the daycare where she was employed.

Court documents allege Harris lifted the child several inches off the floor by one arm before dropping or slamming the child onto his rear end. Investigators also claim she later picked the child up by one arm again, forcefully placed him into a chair, and aggressively shoved both the child and the chair into a nearby table.

The allegations have sparked concern because they involve the treatment of a preschool-aged child who was entrusted to the care of daycare staff.

Authorities have not identified the daycare facility where the alleged abuse took place, and the criminal complaint does not indicate whether the child suffered any physical injuries as a result of the incident.

Harris was arrested and booked into the Mobile Metro Jail on Tuesday afternoon on one count of child abuse. Jail records show she was released approximately one hour later.

Child abuse charges are among the most serious offenses involving the welfare of children, and prosecutors will now determine how the case proceeds through the court system. At this stage, the allegations contained in the criminal complaint have not been proven in court, and Harris is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This is an ongoing investigation.