Probable cause: Day care employee picks up 20-month-old child, "violently" throws her on cot

An employee of a Shell Knob day care picked up a 20-month-old girl and violently threw her on a cot, according to a probable cause statement filed today in Barry County Circuit Court.

Brittney Ann Lassiter (DOB 1993), Cassville, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a felony, and fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor.

Lassiter is being held in the Barry County Jail on a $15,000 bond, cash or surety.

From the probable cause statement:

. Upon arrival, Deputy Clevenger met with Witness l, who wanted to file à report that a day care employee picked up her 20-month-old daughter, Victim 1, and threw her on the ground. 

Deputy Clevenger collected a video recording of the incident from the day care. The video revealed that Victim 1 was crawling out of a sleeping cot when Lassiter walked towards her. 

From a standing position, Lassiter leaned over and lifted Victim 1 by an arm and a leg and raised Victim 1 past Lassiter's knees, approximately two feet in. the air. 

Lassiter then violently threw Victim face down on the cot. Victim 1's body bounced off the cot, and she started to cry, after which Lassiter told her, "Do riot move again," before covering Victim 1 's head and body with a blanket. 

During a post Miranda interview, Lassiter admitted to getting frustrated and aggravated with Victim 1 during nap time, and that she did pick Victim 1 tip and tossed her face down on a cot.

The case was investigated by the Barry County Sheriff's Office.