Ocala, Fla. (WFLA) – A Florida daycare worker was arrested Monday after detectives said they abused six babies at the facility.
Ocala police officers said they were called to the All Star Learning Academy on Silver Springs Boulevard on Monday after child abuse allegations were filed against 33-year-old Carla Penalty Gonzalez.
Detectives said they discovered several cases between March and July with alleged abuse of six infants between four and nine months.
According to the arrest affidavit, the video showed Penalty Gonzalez bouncing the baby “hardly” among the guards.
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“This behavior was violent enough and could have caused serious injuries or death by shaking baby syndrome,” the report said.
In another case, the affidavit said Penalty Gonzalez was sitting in a rocking chair when the child approached her to pick her up. Penalty Gonzalez is allegedly told the child “leave her alone and shove her onto the floor.”
Another worker checked the child to make sure she was OK, the report said. The worker told officers she reported the incident to management, but “nothing came from her report.”
Investigators said Penalty Gonzalez was involved in several other cases of physical harm, including rough handling, forced feeding, violent shaking and asphyxiation.
Police said the incident was reported to the supervisor, but “but no appropriate measures were taken to deal with the allegations in a timely manner.”
Penalty Gonzalez was detained and charged with eight counts of child abuse and resisting arrest, court records show.
Officers said Penalty Gonzalez had been working in daycare since July 2024.
The children and family department will be contacted and relief training will be required for day care staff, police said.
Investigators said they believed there could be more casualties and asked the public if they had witnessed the incident involved.
“These babies are too young to speak for themselves, and your voice is essential to protecting them,” police said in a Facebook post.
Anyone with information about the case will be asked to call the detective at 352-369-7000.
“Our minds are directed at these little babies and their families as we continue to investigate to ensure justice and accountability,” the police department said.
