It Happened In a White Town’: Outraged Grandmother Fights to Shut Down Ohio Day Care After Worker Slaps 1-Year-Old In the Face, But Faces Pushback

An Ohio grandmother is seeking the closure of a nearby daycare center and the arrest of a staff member who was seen on camera hitting her 1-year-old granddaughter. Avalynn Philips, Vonita Philips’ granddaughter, allegedly bit a worker before being “popped in the mouth” by officers, according to a police report that Atlanta Black Star was able to get.

The Crayons Academy employee was dismissed as soon as daycare employees gave the mother of the kid video of the event on February 2. Phillips asserted that the facility has a culture of abuse and that the accused employee, Dana Collins, ought to be dealt with tougher punishment.

The grandma further charged that the proprietor of the daycare had minimized and rationalized Avalynn’s attack. Because of her color, Phillips feels that her granddaughter’s condition is not receiving enough attention.

According to Phillips, if the complexion of our skin had been different, the result may have been different. Given that it took place in a white community, I believe. It’s a prosecutor of color. It’s a teacher of color. Just my brown grandchild is there, and the cop is white.

She worries that as long as Crayons Academy is still in operation, more weak kids—most of whom are non-verbal—will continue to be abused. Days after the tragedy, she staged demonstrations outside the daycare and demanded its closure.

One of the placards said, “Abuse Happens Here”.

Candyce Allen informed West Carrollton police that her daughter, who turned 2 on March 5, had been slapped, and that she had gotten a call from the daycare at approximately 1:45 p.m. Despite not having any problems with any prior jobs, she informed authorities that her daughter could not speak at this time and had previously bitten Collins.

She was taken into the building by Officer Jared Moore, where they watched a silent video of the event. At 9:19 a.m., Moore claimed to have observed Collins and three children, including Avalynn, coloring on paper at a table. Collins grabbed Avalynn’s hands as she attempted to reach inside a crayon box and stopped her.

According to the investigation, the child then bit Collins on the wrist before the daycare provider struck her in the right face and mouth region. The officer noted that it was hard to determine the strike’s severity from the footage. “When Phillips was struck, she let go of Collins’ hand and gave her a piercing look before pointing her finger. After the encounter, Phillips did not seem to experience any emotion.

Moore said that despite taking evidence photos for the police report, he did not notice any outward signs of injury on the youngster. He informed family services about the occurrence. Avalynn’s face has small red stains on photos that her family took and provided to Atlanta Black Star after the event.

Collins was issued a ticket for endangering a child because of the alleged attack on Avalynn. Phillips, though, feels that the misdemeanor charge is insufficient for her to be prosecuted criminally. The family is also thinking about suing Collins and the daycare in civil court. The culture at the daycare is one of abuse, neglect, and cruelty, but it seems to be ignored, according to Phillips.

Moore said that despite taking evidence photos for the police report, he did not notice any outward signs of injury on the youngster. He informed family services about the occurrence. Avalynn’s face has small red stains on photos that her family took and provided to Atlanta Black Star after the event.

Collins was issued a ticket for endangering a child because of the alleged attack on Avalynn. Phillips, though, feels that the misdemeanor charge is insufficient for her to be prosecuted criminally. The family is also thinking about suing Collins and the daycare in civil court. The culture at the daycare is one of abuse, neglect, and cruelty, but it seems to be ignored, according to Phillips.

Avalynn’s father, Phillips’ son, sent her a panicked text that day, according to Phillips. She posted a review on the Crayons Academy’s Google page, which exposed several further claims. She also saw Collins’ Facebook page included a photo album that was strewn with Confederate flags. The city has a population that is 77% white and 16% black, according to the US Census.

The grandma has mobilized family services and police to conduct a more thorough investigation. In reaction to the event, Allen left her work in order to be at home with Avalynn out of concern that she could expose her to further abuse.