CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — UPDATE (3:28 p.m. Thursday): Sinton Police Department Lt. Daniel Alcala said Thursday that another parent has filed a police report in connection with the video.
He could not provide more specific information other than that.
ORIGINAL: A viral video at a Sinton day care has prompted a police investigation over an incident that reportedly happened Tuesday on the playground and caught on camera.
Josefa Perez, the parent who filed the police report, said she was shocked to see her toddler being hit multiple times with a ball by her teachers on the playground.
The video has Perez furious.
"I Immediately pointed out my child," she said. "It was clear as day for me because I knew exactly what she was wearing."
She shared the clips that are circulating on social media with 3NEWS, and pointed out her 21-month-old daughter Kallie in the video wearing a striped shirt and black pants on the playground.
To some, the activity might appear as if the staff and children are engaging in play, but Perez believes it was something else.
"As a parent, I'm going to see -- someone is hitting my child," she said. "Eventually we saw her multiple times, hit by both of her teachers with what looked like a dodgeball, a rubber dodgeball."
What concerns her the most is the matter in which the ball was thrown.
"It was the fact they were overhand throwing," she said. "For a child her age, overhand throwing -- it's intentional."
At one point you see the toddler fall to the ground.
New Discoveries Head Start Center
The alleged incident happened at the Head Start program located at Ave B and Fourth Street.
When 3NEWS reached out to program officials, we were told they would have no comment and referred us to an attorney in San Antonio.
That attorney said he was made aware of the situation and that it has been addressed. He told 3NEWS the issue is a personnel matter, and that he would say no more, in a phone call Wednesday.
The New Discoveries Head Start Center provides free child care for those who qualify.
It's listed as being part of the Community Action Corporation of South Texas non-profit organization.
"CPS has been contacted," Perez said. "She went to Driscoll Children's Hospital to get assessed by the care team."
Kallie was still wearing her bracelet from the hospital as her mom held her during our interview.
The incident is being investigated
The toddler's mom said she has also filed a report with police.
"It was brought to us by that parent, the videos are online as well and the district attorney's office has viewed that as well," said Lt. Daniel Alcala with the Sinton Police Department.
Alcala said it will be up to the DA's office whether any charges will be filed.
"Anytime -- any type of investigation, we take it as a serious matter, especially involving children," he said. "So we want to make sure we look at all ends of it to make sure if something criminally needs to be done it will be."
Other parents come forward
Sinton resident Cathy Jo Suarez has also seen the video -- she's the mom of a 5-year-old.
She said her child attended the same day care program.
"You hurt for these babies because they are younger than my child, who can't come home and tell you what happened," she said.
Suarez told 3NEWS she has her own law-enforcement case currently pending regarding a separate incident involving her daughter.
"(She) said 'My teacher hurt my arm,' " Suarez said. "My child was able to tell me. I am her biggest advocate, I'm always going to speak for her, but there are other kids who can't tell mommy or daddy."
Suarez has since removed her daughter from the day care.
Meantime, Perez said physically, her daughter appears to be okay and hopes it's something she won't remember.
She told 3NEWS she has met with the Head Start staff.
"We have notified them, they lost our trust. How do you take your child back to the same place you got hurt," she said.