CLERMONT, FLA. — A video recording by a day care worker shows the facility’s director hitting a four-year-old boy and dropping him on a mat, police in Clermont said.

On Jan. 29, police were sent to the Children’s Palace Day Care Center to investigate.

According to police, the video footage shows Kimberly Reid, the director at the day care, striking the child numerous times with what appears to be stuffed animals and her hands. The video also shows Reid picking up the child about two to three feet up and dropping him face-down onto a mat, police said.

A co-worker recorded the video on her cellphone, saying she was uncomfortable with the way Reid was handling the child, officials said.

Police contacted the boy’s father, who said he did not give Reid permission to strike or drop his child.

“I don’t know why anybody would do something like this to a child. It’s very disturbing to watch,” said Erin Razo with the Clermont Police Department.

Reid was arrested and charged with child abuse.

Source: WESH