Escambia deputies arrested the director of Children’s Pointe Learning Academy for failing to report suspected child abuse of a 3-year-old and 1-year-old.
In a Facebook announcement May 3, Sheriff Chip Simmons said deputies arrested Teanesha Woods on May 1. Simmons is the director of the daycare where both children attend.
“What we found out was that on three different occasions, abuse was suspected, it was documented and even photographed,” Simmons said. “Unfortunately, Ms. Woods did not report this suspected abuse to the DCF hotline as required by law.”
Woods was arrested and booked into Escambia County Jail May 1 on one charge of failing to report suspected child abuse. Later the same day she posted her $3,000 bond, according to court records.
A case has not yet been publicly filed by the Office of the State Attorney, according to court records.
The News Journal reached out to Children’s Learning Pointe Academy regarding an interim director, but facility staff declined to answer questions.
Simmons said Woods’ arrest stems from the investigation into Dynisha Blunt and Etantania Williams, who were arrested April 27 for child neglect with great bodily harm. The two children, whom Blunt and Williams foster, were found to have multiple extensive injuries, which were discovered after Blunt attempted to get the 3-year-old treatment at West Florida Hospital.
According to police reports, Blunt abruptly left the hospital after the doctors appeared to believe the children were undergoing abuse in the home.
The report said doctors believed it had been days since the child had eaten and appeared malnourished. The report also listed a number of injuries including burns, bruises along the spine and head, abrasions along the abdomen and arm as well as swelling to the head.
“(The doctor) had proceeded to remove the hood and noticed a large soft spot on (redacted) upper right side of his head, which he believes is recent and could possibly be life-threatening if not provided with proper medical attention,” the report said.
Blunt and Williams were charged with two counts of felony child neglect with great bodily harm and is scheduled to be arraigned May 22.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola daycare director arrested for not reporting child abuse
Reporting by Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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