Hopkins’ job was terminated at the center, 1410 S. Elm St., West Carrollton, sometime after the incident was reported to Ohio Job and Family Services.
A complaint filed with the state that had an inspection date of May 7, said, “A child care staff member physically held a preschool child down on their cot at naptime. The child care staff member laid on the child with a pillow until the child stopped squirming.”
Hopkins was not arrested in the incident.
Barnhart said the evidence fit the qualifications for charging Hopkins with the misdemeanor unlawful restraint charge, but did not work for a child endangering charge. “No person without privilege to do so shall knowingly restrain another of the other person’s liberty,” he said, reciting state law.
“Anybody that works with children or schools needs to receive the training that would be required by the state and then just abide by the training that you have,” Barnhart said.
Earlier this month, Colleen Moran, spokeswoman for KinderCare, sent Dayton Daily News a statement that said, “The staff member’s choice to inappropriately hold down a child on his cot goes against our policies and was simply unacceptable. These actions simply aren’t how we operate at KinderCare.”
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