A preschool teacher in Nashville, Georgia, has been arrested on suspicion of child abuse after videos of her children hitting each other went viral online among parents.
Kalasha Johnson was kicked out of Joyful Noise Academy on Wednesday, May 6, after parents found several videos of him allegedly hitting young children, which he allegedly shared in a group chat with his friends.
After the videos were discovered, recorded by the parents and circulated online, police began an investigation into the allegations and Johnson was arrested two days later on Friday, May 8. He was charged with four counts of first degree child cruelty.
The Nashville Police Department said there were four separate reports involving four victims, according to WALB. One victim was 3 years old, and the other three were 2 years old.
It is not yet clear if Johnson entered his plea or retained an attorney after his arrest.
“The safety and well-being of the children in our community remains one of our top priorities,” Nashville Police Sgt Ronald Knowles said a statement following the arrest, according to WALB. “We take allegations of child harm very seriously, and our police officers work tirelessly to ensure that investigations are carried out.”
After Johnson’s job at Joyful Noise Academy was terminated, several parents of preschool-age children expressed their shock at the situation.
“I didn’t see the video, I asked him. Is someone hitting you at school? And he said my teacher. I said where did your teacher hit you? He said right here…immediately my stomach started to hurt,” one parent remembers the conversation they had with their child when they spoke to WALB. “I wrote because something in my heart told me that I was not the only child.”
Perry McKinneywhose two-and-a-half-year-old son was seen behind one of these videos, said he and his wife took their son out of kindergarten following the incident.
“If I had the choice to say yes, I would want Stetson to be in his classroom knowing his background … no, I wouldn’t,” McKinney said. “I wouldn’t put him in that daycare.”
Joyful Noise Academy did not immediately respond Us Weeklyrequest for comment on the case. However, it is said that the kindergarten is cooperating with the Nashville police as the investigation into the allegations against Johnson continues.
Johnson could face additional charges if the investigation uncovers more information.
