Nakia Bartley, 50, was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, recklessly endangering another person, and related offenses.
The incident reportedly occurred Aug. 6 at Rainbow Daycare & Learning on West Huntingdon Street.
"When I saw the video, it was very disturbing," said Diamond Murray, the child's mother. "I only had one video when it already started, and then multiple videos came to my phone from different parents. A lot of children recorded this, and what can another child do to an adult?"
Lawyer speaks after day care director charged with assault
Murray said the incident began after Bartley asked her daughter to sit down.
"She said, 'I was standing by the table, and I wasn't bothering anyone,'" recalled Murray. "She said, 'And then (Bartley) just pushed me down to the ground and punched me, and then she dragged me and threw me in the bathroom. Then she just kept hitting me. When she closed the door, she just kept hitting me and hitting me.'"
Action News visited the day care twice, but it was closed.
"Anybody that watches that can get concerned about that 10-15 seconds, but there is a whole story that needs to be told," Bartley's attorney, Lonny Fish. He says the accused is a mother and grandmother who has cared for hundreds of children and has no criminal history.
"I'm not in a position to start talking about what this child's unique needs were and how the day care should have handled themselves because I'm in the preliminary parts of my investigation," added Fish.
Philadelphia Police's Special Victims Unit began investigating as soon as the video was brought to them.
"I don't know what additional information could change the fact that that child was [dragged] across the floor," said Lt. John Hewitt.
Murray said she trusted Bartley. "I've known her for years and never thought this would happen," she added.
Murray took her daughter to the hospital, where she was treated for a cut inside her mouth and a loosened tooth.
"It's just been traumatic since then," she said.
Murray believes the situation could have been avoided.
"You could have said, 'I can't deal with her today. She's too much. I'm stressed out...Can you come and get her.' And someone would have," she said.
Murray said her daughter's recovery will take time and hopes no other child experiences similar treatment.
"She cannot do this to another child. My child had to go through it, but I'm so glad someone recorded it," she said. "It's not fair. These babies don't deserve that."
Bartley is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 25.
According to the state's website, the day care's license was revoked last Wednesday pending an appeal.