Day Care Worker Accused Of Slapping, Tossing Baby 3 Feet In Air Over Retaining Wall: Video

WESTCHASE, FL — A day care worker has been arrested after being accused of hitting and dropping a 1-year-old in her care, causing serious injuries to the baby.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Yamirka Menendez, 51, who worked at the Time of Wonder Academy, 5130 Sunforest Drive, off Hillsborough Avenue, was seen on surveillance video Sept. 8 around 8 a.m. removing a 1-year-old child from a mechanical baby swing by his wrists, then swinging the child about 3 feet in the air over a retaining wall where the baby dropped to the floor.

Just after noon the same day, the sheriff's office said the 1-year-old had been placed back in the baby swing, and Menendez can be seen on camera hitting him in the head.

Due to the abuse, the baby boy was unable to stand upright or place weight on his left foot and leg.

About an hour later, at 1:08 p.m., Menendez was seen on video feeding a bottle to a 4-month-old baby on her lap. The sheriff's office said she forcefully grabbed and yanked the baby's right leg and slapped the baby several times.

On Sept. 9, the mother of the 1-year-old took her child to St. Joseph’s Hospital after noticing the child was experiencing pain in his left foot. He was diagnosed with a fractured tibia and fibula.

On Sept. 23, 2021, the child was examined by medical staff at the University of South Florida’s Child Protection Team, which found the injuries to the child’s leg to be signs of physical abuse. A report was filed with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Detectives contacted Time of Wonder Daycare, reviewed the video recordings from the room, and Menendez was arrested on Sept. 28.

Another employee of the daycare, Milagros Rodriguez, 52, was in the room at the time of the incident and is facing a charge of failure to report child abuse.

Neither woman has a criminal history.

The incidents have also been reported to Hillsborough County Child Care Licensing Department.