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SC church day care employee accused of shoving, kicking boy, dragging him by ears

Amanda Dee Ann Henry, 48, was charged in May for the April incident.

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — A Lancaster, South Carolina woman was arrested Wednesday after being accused of abusing a boy at the church day care she worked at.

The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office said 48-year-old Amanda Dee Ann Henry was charged with one count of committing cruelty to children. She was later released on a $2,500 bond. 

An incident report shared with WCNC Charlotte showed that Henry reportedly shoved a boy to the ground, kicked him, and dragged him to a classroom by his ears at the day care located at Springdell Baptist Church. The boy's parents reached out to deputies when they picked him up on Wednesday, April 17.

The report said the parents noticed injuries on him and took him to a hospital for treatment. He also reportedly told them a woman jumped on his back.

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A deputy went to the day care to view the surveillance video of what happened, confirming what had happened. The boy reportedly tried to leave out of the front door after being dropped off but was promptly picked up by Henry while still kicking and thrashing. At that point, the deputy's report said Henry shoved the boy to the ground and appeared to kick him. Henry then appears to push the boy once he's back on his feet and drags him by his ears into a classroom.

The report said Henry and the boy were in the classroom for 15 minutes before the boy left with his hands in his pockets. The report also notes an employee the deputy spoke with showed a scabbed area on his arm where he said the boy had bitten him a few days prior and said Henry was a good teacher, with her whole class from her last job following her to Springdell.

WCNC Charlotte has reached out to the church for further comment.

Lancaster is about 43 miles southeast of Charlotte, North Carolina, and about 60 miles north of the South Carolina state capitol of Columbia.

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Note: WCNC instituted a policy in March 2021 regarding the broadcast or posting of mugshots.  

WCNC will only air or post a mugshot if the person has been formally charged with a crime and in a few other cases. The exceptions include: If it appears the person could be a danger to themselves or others or if they are wanted by authorities; to differentiate between people with a common name; if the photos could encourage more victims to come forward. The news-editorial leadership may also decide to use a mugshot based on the severity of the crime(s) committed and/or the level of public interest in the crime and ensuing criminal proceedings. 

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