Caught on Camera: Delaware County daycare worker pushes girl, 4, down stairs
UPPER DARBY, Pa. (WPVI) -- A Delaware County daycare worker is facing charges after video captured a horrific incident, in which the worker pushed a 4-year-old girl down a flight of steps.
It happened around 5:15 p.m. Friday at Childcare of the Future in the 700 block of Secane Avenue in Primos.
In a news conference Monday evening, Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said 52-year-old Sarah Gable of Folcroft pushed the little girl down a flight of steps.
A camera, installed just a half hour before the incident, captured it all on video.
WATCH SURVEILLANCE VIDEO RELEASED BY POLICE
In the video you can see the girl enter the picture at the top of the steps, when for seemingly no reason, Gable approaches from behind and shoves the girl down approximately six steps.
Gable then follows the girl down the steps, helps her up and then looks squarely at the camera.
Luckily, the girl was not seriously injured.
"When parents give their kids to daycare centers, the expectation is that their children are going to be taken care of," Chitwood said.
Police say as soon as the daycare owner discovered the video of the incident, Gable was confronted and police were contacted. She was then fired from her job at the daycare.
Shawayne Tavares was the day care administrator who was monitoring the new camera when the incident happened.
"I was so upset. It just hurt me. We don't treat children here like that. So, it was like, 'Why would you do that? Why would you push a child down the steps.' And the way she did it was just so carelessly as if she'd been doing it," Tavares said.
We went to Gable's home in Folcroft Monday night where a man told us, "She's not available at this time."
We were referred to her attorney in Media, but were unable to reach him after business hours.
Gable is now charged with simple assault, harassment, and endangering the welfare of the child. She is now free on $25,000 secured bond.
