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On September 26, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that on September 24, 2025, the Guardian Angel Settlement Association staff Ollie Kyles was observed chasing Child F (4-years-old) on the playground. Ollie yelled, "I'll get a belt." Ollie said, "These parents need to teach these kids at home." Another staff member reported Ollie made statements to children about getting a belt. Ollie also hit a child on the hand on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. Due to the concerns, video recordings were reviewed of Ollie with the children. Ollie was seen picking up Child B (4-years-old) and dropping Child B to the floor with force. Then Ollie snatched Child B up by the arm, held Child B in the air over the bookshelf, and then dropped Child B to the floor. The video footage showed Child B getting up off the floor and walking away holding the arm as if in pain. In video footage, Ollie took Child D (3-years-old) to the closet aggressively. Ollie was in the closet for approximately three minutes alone with Child D. The closet was out of view and there was no sound on the video. The video footage from Wednesday, September 24, 2025, shows Ollie picking up three separate children aggressively and dropping them to the floor. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Patrick O'Malley has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following information:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)10., which states that: "Children shall not be placed in a closet, a locked or unlit room, or any other place which is frightening."
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5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)3., which states that: "Only constructive, age-appropriate methods of discipline shall be used to help children develop self-control and assume responsibility for their own actions."
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5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)7., which states that: "Physical punishment including, but not limited to, spanking, slapping, shaking, biting, or pulling hair shall be prohibited."
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5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(C)8., which states that: "No discipline technique which is humiliating, threatening, or frightening to children shall be used. Children shall not be shamed, ridiculed, or spoken to harshly, abusively, or with profanity."
On September 29, 2025, CI O'Malley conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and observed four pieces of video footage:
The first video is dated September 24, 2025, and begins with a timestamp of 8:39:42 a.m. The video is in color and does not contain audio. The video shows the interior of the preschool classroom. At 8:39:51, Ollie approaches a group of children playing at the far end of the room; Ollie's back is to the camera. At 8:40:41, Ollie turns away from the children, towards the camera. Ollie walks away from the children while adjusting his belt. Ollie walks toward a second group of children while continuing to adjust his belt. The video ends at 8:40:51.
The second video is dated September 24, 2025, and begins with a timestamp of 8:41:55 a.m. The video is in color and does not contain audio. The video shows the interior of the preschool classroom. At 8:42:00, Ollie uses both hands to pick up Child B by the upper right arm. Ollie raises Child B to the level of his head then abruptly drops Child B to the floor. Child B walks toward the camera, away from Ollie. Child B holds her upper right arm with her left hand. At 8:42:14, Ollie uses his left hand to pick up a child whose face cannot be seen by the right arm. Ollie appears to lift the child off the floor and to their feet by one arm. The video ends at 8:42:42.
The third video is dated September 24, 2025, and begins with a timestamp of 9:25:13 a.m. The video is in color and does not contain audio. The video shows the interior of the preschool classroom. At 9:25:06, Ollie uses his left hand to push Child B in the back, causing Child B to fall to the floor. Child B's impact with the floor is obscured by a short bookshelf. Ollie leans over Child B and appears to speak to her. At 9:26:25, Ollie appears to reposition Child B with Ollie's left hand; it is unclear what part of Child B's body Ollie is grasping. At 9:26:33, Ollie stands up and walks away from Child B. The video ends at 9:26:55.
The fourth video is dated September 24, 2025, and begins with a timestamp of 10:22:19 a.m. The video is in color and does not contain audio. The video shows the interior of the preschool classroom. At 10:22:43, Ollie uses both hands to pick up Child E (4-years-old) by the upper right arm. At 10:22:46, Ollie exits the frame while carrying Child E. At 10:22:49, Ollie re-enters the frame without Child E. The video ends at 10:23:07.
Director Venita was unable to produce the fifth video.
CI O'Malley conducted interviews with director Venita Oatis, staff Ariel Clay, Jackie Durham, Kalyin White, Rose Bourrage, Child B (4-years-old), Child C (4-years-old), and Child D (3-years-old). Child B, Child C, and Child D were interviewed but did not provide any relevant responses. Staff Kaylin White stated that on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, she witnessed Ollie chase Child F around the playground. Ollie appeared to be frustrated and was out of breath. Ollie said, "Don't make me take off my belt," and "I'll take off my belt," several times while chasing Child F. The threats were not sexual, and Ollie obviously said them in anger. Ollie did not actually take off his belt. Ollie was not able to catch Child F. Kaylin had never heard him threaten to take his belt off before. Kaylin informed Venita of the incident immediately after the class came inside.
Director Venita Oatis stated that Kaylin informed her that Ollie had angrily chased after Child F on the playground. Kaylin mentioned that Ollie had threatened to take off his belt to Child F. Venita conducted an internal investigation, which included reviewing video footage and interviewing children. Child A (3-years-old) reported that a teacher hit her on the hand. Venita witnessed five incidents of concern on the video. The first video showed Ollie adjusted his belt as if he was threatening to take it off. The second video showed Ollie picking up Child B by one arm and dropping her to the floor. The third video showed Ollie pushing Child B in the back, knocking her to the floor. The fourth video showed Ollie picking up Child E (4-years-old) by one arm. The fifth video showed Ollie taking Child D into the classroom's closet for three minutes, the closet door remained open while Ollie and Child D were inside. The camera angle does not show inside of the closet so it is unknown what happened in the closet between Ollie and Child D. The facility was closed for staff training on Thursday and Friday, September 25 and 26, 2025. Ollie was terminated on September 26, 2025. Ollie did not attempt to argue his termination, he just said, "Okay."
Staff Ariel Clay stated that she usually worked with Ollie as his assistant teacher. Ollie had lost his temper several times and yelled at the children. Ollie did not use timeouts; he just yelled at the children. Ariel did not recall Ollie yelling anything inappropriate. Ollie had threatened to take off his belt several times but had never actually done it. Ariel had seen Ollie pick up several children, but never by one arm. Ariel never witnessed Ollie drop or throw any children. Ariel never witnessed Ollie take any children into the closet or restroom.
Staff Jackie Durham stated that she worked in Ollie's classroom as a floater sometimes. Jackie had witnessed Ollie yell at children but did not recall the specific words he used. Ollie had threatened to take off his belt once several months ago. Jackie never witnessed Ollie pick up or throw any children or take any children into the restroom or closet.
On September 30, 2025, CI O'Malley conducted phone interviews with Parent B (parent of Child B), Parent C (parent of Child C), and Parent D (parent of Child D). Parent D declined to be interviewed. Parent B stated that Child B liked Ollie and she had no problems during drop-off at the facility. Child B had never mentioned anything about being picked up by one arm or being punished. Parent B had never had any concerns about Ollie.
Parent C stated that Child C had no problems during drop-off at the facility. Child C had never mentioned anything about being punished. Parent C had no concerns about Ollie.
On October 30, 2025, CI O'Malley attempted to conduct interviews with Child A (3-years-old), Child E (4-years-old), and Child F (4-years-old). None of the children provided any relevant responses.
On October 30, 2025, CI O'Malley conducted phone interviews with Parent E (parent of Child E) and Parent F (parent of Child F). Parent F declined to be interviewed. Parent E stated that Child E had no problems during drop-off at the facility. Child E had never mentioned anything about being punished. Parent E had no concerns about Ollie or Child E's care at the facility.
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