Video: 2nd Day Care Employee Charged With Child Abuse In Odessa

ODESSA, FL — A second employee of the Children's Land of Imagination Academy day care center in Odessa has been accused of physically abusing a child in her care.

On Tuesday, Hillsborough County Sheriff's special victims detectives arrested 28-year-old Tara Ballou, four days after arresting her employer, Rong Liu, 51, the co-owner of the day care at 17409 Gunn Highway, Odessa.

Detectives said they arrested Liu on child abuse charges after watching a video from a closed-circuit camera installed in the day care center. While watching the same video, detectives said they saw Ballou forcefully pushing and pulling a child's arms, legs, head and neck with her hands while trying to put the child down for a nap.

Detectives also said she can be seen in the video also placing her left leg across the top of the child's body to hold him down. The child can be seen crying and flailing his legs.

The sheriff's office said this occurred on Monday, June 20, a half an hour before Rong used similar measures to get another child to take a nap.

See related story: Day Care Co-Owner In Odessa Charged With Child Abuse

"The arrest of a second person in this case shows the dedication our investigators have in seeking out those who harm the innocent and vulnerable." said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "The video is hard to watch, but gives us a clear view of the mistreatment happening under their watch. We ask all parents who feel their children may have been victims of abuse at this daycare to talk with our detectives."