News

Paragould Day Care Worker Charged with Felony Battery After Toddler Injured

Paragould Day Care Worker Charged with Felony Battery After Toddler Injured

Photo: Saga Communications/Greene County Sheriff's Office


Paragould, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – A local day care worker faces a felony charge after state officials and law enforcement investigated an incident that left a 3-year-old child with injuries.

Jayden Grider, of Paragould, has been charged with second-degree battery, a Class D felony, according to an affidavit filed in Greene County District Court.

The investigation began July 28 after the Paragould Police Department and Arkansas Crimes Against Children received a hotline report regarding a child injured at a local day care facility.

ADD US ON GOOGLE NEWS: Click here to see more local news from Jonesboro Right Now

According to the affidavit, the child had been placed in time-out and began striking himself. Grider then allegedly grabbed the child by the ankles and dragged him a short distance across an artificial turf play area.

Surveillance video from the facility depicts Grider sitting across from the child—who was seated next to an assigned teacher—before reaching over, grabbing his ankles, and pulling him across the turf to her location.

Photographs of the victim revealed “pretty extensive abrasions,” showing four scrape marks along the child’s back and ribcage area.

During an interview with investigators, Grider acknowledged pulling the child by his ankles to her position. She also admitted she was aware of the child’s injuries but failed to report the incident to her supervisor, court documents state.

Under Arkansas law, second-degree battery includes knowingly causing physical injury to a child 12 years of age or younger without legal justification.

A Greene County judge found probable cause for Grider’s arrest on Thursday, setting her bond at $75,000. As a condition of her release, Grider is ordered to have no contact with the victim, witnesses, or others involved in the case.

| DAILY BRIEF: Sign up for the Jonesboro Right Now Daily Brief Newsletter

This Week in Jonesboro

Recent Headlines

2 days ago in Entertainment

Actor Storm Reid hopes music reveals another side, introducing listeners to the real her

Storm Reid knows how the world sees her: an accomplished, polished actor who always seems to have it all together. Through new music, the Emmy-winner hopes listeners discover another side of her.

2 days ago in Lifestyle

Tanning is getting hot again. Here’s what it really does to your skin

Experts are concerned about a resurgence in the popularity of tanning among young adults as social media has helped tanning in general make a comeback. A video of a girl sharing her "tanning secrets" and showing off a bikini tan line has racked up more than 11 million views, while people in the comments joke, "The earth probably won't last long anyway, I'd rather go out tan than pale."

2 days ago in Entertainment, Music

The Recording Academy CEO responds to BTS decision not to submit to Grammys

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. has responded to the news that K-pop powerhouse BTSwill not submit their music for consideration at the forthcoming 2027 Grammy Awards.

2 days ago in Entertainment

Glen Hansard, Irish musician who won Oscar for ‘Once,’ dies in motorcycle crash

Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, who won an Academy Award for the 2007 film "Once," died in a motorcycle crash on the outskirts of Dublin early Wednesday, his management said. He was 56.

2 days ago in Entertainment

Wildfires force George Clooney’s family to evacuate their home in southern France

George Clooney has said his family has been forced to evacuate their home in southeastern France as a wildfire burned nearby, his agent said Thursday.