The director of a Lake County day-care center has been charged with child abuse after police say she struck a child.

The Clermont Police Department said officers Jan. 29 were called to the Children’s Palace Day Care Center at 662 E. Highway 50 in Clermont about a child abuse report.

Police say when officers arrived at the day care, the Department of Children and Families shared a video with them that was allegedly recorded by a coworker on a cell phone.

Police said the video shows Kimberly Reid, 41, of Apopka striking a 4-year-old child with stuffed animals and her hands, and then Reid picking up the boy about 2 or 3 feet high in the air and dropping him face down onto his nap mat.

“Oh my God," said Tricha Ramos, who watched the video for the first time. 

Ramos was thinking about enrolling her four-year-old daughter in the same daycare. 

“I came to check out the place," Ramos said. "She came with me and we didn’t really like it. The staff didn’t seem up to par.”

But the person facing child abuse charges isn’t just a staff member, she’s the day care director.

“Oh my God," Ramos said. "The things that run through my mind when I see that. I have a child. If somebody hurt her that way, I don’t know what I’d do.”

In the Clermont Police report, Reid told investigators she was just playing rough with the child.

“Rough play?" Ramos said. "Get out of here. No that’s ridiculous. You don’t handle a child like that.” 

A thought that investigators share.

“It makes it even more disturbing that she’s the one in charge," Officer Erin Razo of the Clermont Police Department said. "Somebody that you’re supposed to be able to trust with your children. And it’s very sad to see something like that. A lot of courage it took for the other employee to get that on video for us, which helps our case tremendously.”

For now, the Children’s Palace Learning Center is closed with a sign that said they will open again with new ownership.  Reid is charged with two counts of child abuse.

“I wouldn’t want anybody to bring their kids here now at all," Ramos said. 

Investigators are wondering how Kimberly Reid was even able to become a day care director with her extensive criminal record that includes fraud and grand theft. She is currently held without bond due to her violation of probation. 

Police are asking parents to talk to their children and to come forward if they believe their child has also been victimized. You can call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.