West Houston day care worker arrested for dragging, throwing 3-year-old boy, police say

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A west Houston day care employee was arrested on Tuesday after police say she was seen on surveillance video dragging and throwing a 3-year-old boy.

Beneta Wallace, 23, was charged with endangering a child.

Houston police say they were called to Star Kiddos Childcare Center on Barker Cypress on Tuesday, where the boy's mom informed them of the assault that she said occurred on Monday.

She told Eyewitness News that the video shows a teacher throwing her son into a chair, then dragging him by his shirt down a hallway before throwing him in an office "like a bag of trash."

A woman who answered at Star Kiddos initially declined to comment, but the day care's owner later confirmed to Eyewitness News that Wallace had been terminated and said they reported the matter to CPS Tuesday morning.

According to an affidavit filed with the court, Wallace stated she worked there for four months, but listed herself as currently unemployed.

During a probable cause hearing on Wednesday, her court-appointed attorney revealed Wallace has a 10-month-old daughter while arguing for less restrictive bond conditions.

"Want to make sure she is not given any conditions that she can't be with her own biological child," attorney Arlene Hecht said.

Hearing officer Cheryl Diggs granted that request and gave Wallace a $10,000 personal recognizance bond.

Jail records show she's been released since.

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