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Head Start teacher accused of striking 1-year-old

Posted at 3:15 PM, Aug 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-21 16:15:44-04

A St. Martinville Early Head Start teacher has been charged with simple battery, accused of hitting a 1-year-old.

St. Martinville Police say that on August 13, 2019 an officer with St. Martinville Police Department was advised about a walk-in complaint in reference to child abuse.

According to police, the complainant stated that an hour after he picked up his one-year-old child from St. Martinville Early Head Start on South Martin Luther King Drive on August 13, he was advised by Head Start staff to return to their location.

The staff of Head Start informed the complainant that his one-year-old child was allegedly hit by a teacher. The staff advised the parent they would took the matter very seriously. On August 20, 2019, the same officer made contact with three witnesses at Early Head Start and took their statements.

From these statements the officer learned at around 1:35 pm on August 13, 2019 a teacher identified as 32-year-old Kristina Francois allegedly struck the one-year-old child twice in the mid/lower back when the child would not stop crying.

The officer was able to obtain pictures of the injury to the child’s back.

Kristina Francois arrived at the St. Martinville police department Tuesday afternoon. She was released on a summons.