Charges are now officially filed against the employee from the Altus Early Childhood Center. Gerald Pruitt is now facing one felony charge related to child abuse.
Court documents filed yesterday reveal that police responded to an incident involving Pruitt and a 5-year-old child on October 10.
Authorities have released footage showing Pruitt striking the child in the back of the head.
Not long after, the 5-year-old involved was playfully wrestling with another child when they attempted to hit Pruitt in the stomach.
Authorities report that Pruitt seized the child by the back of their shirt, pulled them to the ground, lifted them up, and then brought them back down before striking the child in the chest.
Pruitt stated in a police interview that he merely tapped the victim on the back of the head and confronted one of them for bullying.
Authorities had their suspicions about his alcohol consumption and conducted a breathalyzer test on him at the school.
The test revealed a Blood Alcohol Level of .10, exceeding the legal driving limit by .02 percent.
He could be sentenced to anywhere from one year to life behind bars.
Reference: Altus early childhood center employee arrested for alleged child abuse