The director of a local day

care center has been forbidden from operating the facility after a state

investigation into allegations that she injured an 8-year-old girl in

her care.

The Child Care Licensing Section

of the state Department of Human Resources has notified Simone Reddick

that she cannot enter Early Stages Academy and Daycare when children are

present, according to documents The Citizen requested under the Georgia

Open Records Act. Melody Clark has been appointed the acting director

Reddick was arrested Nov. 27

for simple battery after she hurt the girl while pulling her down the

hall by her arm, according to an arrest warrant. That arrest caused the

state to issue Reddick an unsatisfactory criminal records check finding,

according to a letter sent to Reddick by Child Care Licensing Section

Director Jo C. Cato.

"Your unsatisfactory determination

prohibits you from being approved to direct or operate a child care program

or registered home," the letter states. "Therefore, you must

immediately stop directing or operating the licensed or registered child

care program."

Reddick also was arrested for

obstruction of a law enforcement officer for directing her employees to

lie to Sgt. Renee James of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department during

an initial investigation, according to records.

Reddick could request a hearing

before an administrative law judge to overturn the unsatisfactory criminal

records check finding, but she has not made that request as of Tuesday

morning, said David Fletcher, one of the state surveyors who conducted

the investigation. Reddick has up to 10 days to request such a hearing.

The investigation confirmed

that Reddick handled the 8-year-old "roughly" and another employee,

Jeanette Brown, spanked the girl with her hands.

State regulations forbid corporal

punishment in child care facilities.

Brown, who was also arrested

for simple battery, has been terminated from the center and therefore

the department has not sought to issue an unsatisfactory criminal records

check finding, Fletcher said. That arrest could keep her from working

again at a licensed day care center in Georgia, he added.

Early Stages, at 108 Antioch

Rd., opened Oct. 5. During an inspection regarding the recent allegations,

the Child Care Licensing Section also found one violation unrelated to

the charges.

According to CCLS documents,

children under 3 years old were not kept separate from other children

as required by state regulations.