DOCUMENT: Crime

Cops: Day Care Workers Forced Toddler Fight

Trio was seen on video enabling little boy fisticuffs

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Daycare Toddler Fight

AUGUST 21--Three Delaware day care workers face felony assault and conspiracy charges after cops discovered videos of them forcing two three-year-old boys to engage in a shocking and brutal fight.

According to a Dover Police Department affidavit, investigators Saturday obtained a search warrant for the cell phone of Tiana Harris, an employee of the Hands of Our Future day care center.

Cops secured the warrant after learning about videos that Harris, 19, reportedly recorded of a March fight between two tiny combatants.

On the videos, the two toddlers are “being forced to engage in a physical altercation” by 47-year-old Lisa Parker, while Harris and Estefania Myers, 21, are “laughing and encouraging” the battle.

As the duo’s caretakers watched, one of the boys was “punched numerous times in the face and head” by the other child. When the boy stopped fighting, Parker grabbed him and forced him to keep brawling--while Harris and Myers are caught on tape “laughing and encouraging the altercation.”

One of the young victims is also seen “screaming and crying and holding his face while being punched” as well as being pushed into a table.

Arrested yesterday, Harris, Myers, and Parker--pictured, left to right, in the above mug shots (click to enlarge)--were also hit with misdemeanor child endangerment charges since the video shows seven other children at the facility in the area where the fight was taking place.

Free on $10,000 bond each, the trio is due in court Friday morning for a preliminary hearing. (2 pages)