So the reason why I'm here today is I was notified by a daycare. Um there's an incident that happened in a classroom >> like you of that that chair with such force head snaps back with your hand on top head like this on the ground. >> I should not have touched I should have just like turned around and ignored and it was just one of those moments that I got hit with one too many crayons. I am so sorry. >> Saturday April 29th 2025 Bureau Beach Florida at Kids City USA. a preschool that promoted itself as specialized in the care of children with special needs. What began as a simple art activity turned into a criminal case when a 4-year-old boy with autism ended up injured and crying on the classroom floor. What the surveillance cameras captured was not a child's tantrum, but a serious failure in professional care. A teacher who lost control in an environment that was supposed to be safe and specialized. I'm Tyler and this is your daily dose of crime. We can see that you're watching, but only 11% of you are actually subscribed to the channel. So, take a moment right now to hit that subscribe button and ring that bell so that we can keep bringing these videos to people and you never miss your daily dose of crime. Thanks for supporting the channel and for watching our videos. Hi, Miss Miss Alice. Hi, Miss Alice. How are you? >> Hold on. Wait a minute. Let's move away. >> No, it's no problem. >> Hi. How are you? Good. Um, I'm Detective Good, but >> I know you've had a rough day. >> Yes. >> Um, so I'm Detective Christine Reing with the sheriff's office. Don't get alarmed. You know, we come out to a lot of things. Anytime someone makes an allegation, I come out. You know, I make contact with people. Um, basically what I'm asking of you is if you'd be willing to conduct an interview with me. Now, I was on the way out, but I can if you want me to do it now or >> if you don't mind. >> No, that's fine. >> Okay. So, I'm going to read you something. It's completely up to you. You know it when we get to the bottom of this list. We'll go from there. Okay. >> So, you have the right to remain silent. Do you understand me, Miss Alice? Okay. So, the reason why I'm here today is I was notified by a daycare. Um, this incident that happened in a classroom. >> Um, from your words, can you explain to me what happened in that classroom? >> We were getting ready for lunch and I had the kids coming. I had a child throwing crayons all over the place, hitting me, throwing crayons at me. Okay. >> I walked over, did not say, "Now down hands were and I was getting ready to say, "Let's, you know, put your crayons on the table. We're not going to punched me in my stomach." >> Okay. >> And I was trying to scream. I was going to up and like over to another area so we can talk and wait for the he wasn't going upset. either tripped or what, but it looks fell or I >> okay happened, right? >> And that's what the camera sees, cried. She didn't get hurt. There was nothing as an aid that came. She came back in. >> She out of the room. >> Okay, >> that was it. That's all that happened. I >> There was That was it. >> Alice Wood, age 48, had been working in early childhood education for two decades and had been hired at Kids City USA as a classroom teacher. The center employed behavioral technicians specifically to support children with autism. But on the morning of April 29th, the brief absence of one of them exposed the fragility of the system. In her first statement, Wood claimed the boy had provoked her and that her intervention was minimal, shifting responsibility onto the child. That version not only conflicted with what the recording later revealed, but also exposed Wood's lack of understanding of behaviors common to the autism spectrum and the deescalation techniques she was expected to apply. For investigators, the question became immediate. How could a professional with years of experience end up engaging in conduct that bordered on abuse inside a classroom meant for the most vulnerable? >> So, uh, we're talking about the child uh, and were you made aware that? >> Yes. And I've been at the place May 5th, May 6 would have been my year. I've had all this time. I know is I was just trying to throw stuff. We were at tables. That's all I was going to do. >> Gets upset or anything like that. What's a typical way that you have >> for I don't always do it. >> Okay. >> But >> why don't you always a therapist always in the classroom. >> But read calm down. >> Let's take a breath. Let's recenter and then let's go back to what we were doing. >> Okay. >> But we did have a kind of a a non-normal day. It's picture day. >> And so we didn't go outside >> cuz some of my class had siblings. So we didn't it wasn't a normal routine day. >> Got it. >> So he was taking him outside and we were doing music. He was getting a little little auntie ready for lunch. >> Got it. Got it. >> That was And she was hand was hitting her and but she wasn't bothering the other kids. >> Gotcha. Got it. >> That was it. She walked out of the room. >> Mhm. >> To go to the bathroom, I think. >> Mhm. >> And when he started acting, that was it. >> It was like a two second >> moment. >> Moment. Okay. >> But just my little interaction consent. Not going to have a full conversation with you and describe feelings. >> Not always. Not >> not always. Right. That's meets the therapist there >> with their therapy plan. Um they don't have a restraint >> in there. I.e. you're not too or anything to that degree. Right. Your understanding of that? >> Yes. >> Okay. So you are aware and you have had conversations with seen them when he got into it. So, and he they've had hold and not restrain, but I wasn't restraining it. I just put my hands >> and I was going to say >> place the crayons. >> Yeah. Place his crown, you know. >> So, he was wearing that to punch me. >> Okay. >> And I was like, we're not going to, you know, I just So, I was getting ready to move and like man, let's go. We're going to go over here. And that's when it happened. They have not fully reached but he can get >> okay >> bitey and >> and they've held on to him but I try not to that's as much as I do is I'll touch your hands and let's come here but >> I'm not going today with moving from place to another place >> I was just taken from one chair and I was going to come this way >> and that was it just >> do you looking back feel as though maybe it was a little too much >> I should not have touched I should have just like turned around and ignored And it was just one of those >> moments. >> Moments. >> Yeah. >> That I got hit with one too many crayons. >> Okay. >> And I was just going to talk. That's all I was going to do. >> Gotcha. Well, you know, parents were here. What would you like to >> I am so sorry. I did not mean to do anything. I didn't want to grow so much in my class. >> Mhm. >> I am so sorry. I did not to go from one spot TO ANOTHER VOLLEY LIKE THAT. And I didn't have a chance to recover from it because she walked in the room. >> Okay. >> Instantly picked up and out of the room. I didn't have a chance to like see was all right or anything. >> Okay. So, I did watch the video in a portion of it. You place your left hand tied. What was that for? >> Mhm. Yes, ma'am. >> Wait. At the table or >> after after he's moved from the the seat to maybe two, three feet. >> I don't remember touching. I was trying to up. I have no idea. I don't even remember that part. >> Your hand goes on the top head and you kind of hold there. >> I don't even remember doing that. I have no idea what I why I touched his head. >> I have no idea. >> Have you seen the video? >> No, I didn't even see it. I They just told me and I walked and I just >> that I was gone and I just I >> As the interrogation advanced, officers reminded Wood that Florida law is clear. Physically restraining a child is prohibited except in extreme situations of imminent danger and even then only through specific procedures. This applies even more in a special education classroom where the appropriate response to challenging behavior should be redirection or technical support. Wood insisted she never immobilized the boy, reducing her actions to mere contact, but that explanation collapsed against the testimony of the behavioral technician, who confirmed that internal guidelines had been clearly violated. For investigators, the issue was no longer just a single incident, but the gap between what was expected at a specialized center and what had actually taken place in practice. >> So, here here's my concern from a a purely outside perspective, right? Having a fit, right? You come over, you kneel down, you put your hands on on top, you can tell that you're talking, right? You can kind of having a fit, right? Your hands move, you by by the arms and you come out of that chair with such force that it's almost like Have you ever watched like the the crash dummies, >> right? Where you >> I don't remember doing >> Hold on. Let me >> Sorry. Yeah. Okay. >> But you know what I'm talking about, right? Where like the whiplash >> like you of that that chair with such force head snaps back. >> Oh. And then on the ground he's still having a fit and he does swing at you and then you with your hand on top head like this on the ground. >> I don't even remember any doing any of that. I swear I don't remember. All I remember there and I turned cuz she walked in and I don't remember I I have no clue. I don't even remember just one second. >> Has I mean has a mark like a like a adult handsized mark. It's almost entire arm, shoulder, elbow right from where >> you realize where like I am so apologetic. I don't even >> I've been at this business in childcare for 20 plus years and never ever got >> never had a >> Has it always has it always been with uh you know disabled kids or or special needs? No, I've No, I've been working. Well, I had once at my last place, I had one kid that was he had some some issues, but I've been hit crunch things at me. I've I don't know what happened today. I am. So, I'm >> Would you Would you agree though? Right. Like it's not an ordinary teaching assignment, right? Like ordinarily, I would never look at a teacher and say >> you getting hit as part of the job, >> right? But I think can we all agree that when you're dealing with especially like fouryear-old children that have special needs that >> there are going to be times that they act out that way. >> Even though for a year I'm still growing and change getting older. So we're still working. I'm still working and with the age I'm not always him but not always always. So >> it's >> well miss. >> So I'm >> Can we agree that a level of force is not the same as an adult, right? >> So >> if you are to from one point to another point >> in the way that we've seen it, it's a little it's excessive a force. >> Okay, Miss Alison, I'm going have you step turn around for me. Okay, ma'am. >> Can I lock my door? [clears throat] My keys are mine. That's for my >> Here. You want to get >> I'm going to have you go palm to palm. Can you go palm to palm? Palm to palm. So like both palms. >> You have a bad shoulder. >> Yes, please. >> My phone's in my back pocket. >> Yeah, we'll take care of all that for you. Which is your house key, ma'am? >> The um one. >> Is it this one or this one? >> I can't see. I can see the top. The one with the holes in it. >> This one? >> No, that one. >> This one? >> Yeah. >> You want me to call your mom? Yes. >> Do you have your phone number? >> Um, I don't know by I don't know by heart. It's on my phone. It's in my back pocket. >> Just give us one second. We'll get it to you. >> Thank you. I appreciate you guys. >> What are we looking for right now? >> Her phone's in her back. >> Someone did call me while I was talking to you guys. And I'm supposed to be at a meeting right now? >> For school? For work? >> Well, for it was a work. It was for my old college. >> Oh, okay. Where'd you graduate from? Uh, anywhere college? >> Oh, okay. How long would you graduate? >> Just a couple years ago. I got my CDA for >> Oh, for child education. >> So, will I be in there tonight or >> Tonight? Yes, ma'am. Until the morning where they will issue you a bond. >> So, it's only one night, you know, until you're or until you're able to post a bomb. >> Apartment's right down the street. >> I know. I know. just unfortunately my car doesn't have the means of transporting people. Um, somebody else has to do that even though I know it's just a short distance. >> When she finally admitted there had been excessive force, Alice Wood tried to defend her reputation by claiming that she never had any incidents in 20 years of teaching. Yet, her words quickly lose weight in the light of her attitude. More concerned about locking her house, calling her mother, or attending a social event than about being accused of child That contrast between the legal moment that she was facing and her personal remarks would reinforce the officer's perception that Wood was minimizing what happened and detaching herself from the seriousness of the harm. The video evidence in the visible injuries on the child had already established a different reality. One far removed from the image that she tried to project. >> It's going to be taken us right to beautiful. >> Okay. Um, I have two of her belongings, her keys. Her house is locked up. You're all set. I'm going to open this back door. Go ahead. Take a seat. Oh, this isn't. So, yep. You just step in. >> Step in. >> I'm not that tall. >> Go ahead. Step up. >> There you go. >> There you go. >> Just hit that new tattoo. >> All right. Listen. Okay. >> So, now that we've all had a second to breathe and everything, I know. I know. I'm I'm so sorry I have to be here, but you know it's >> I'm sorry it happened. >> I Yeah, I'm sure this has probably never happened. Here we are. >> Never would have thought what we expected. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um Miss Are you or how do you spell your first name? >> Uh my government name is >> Okay. Is that >> Do you go by? >> So just in your own words cuz I know we had a lot of girls coming through here. We saw a lot of video. What What has transpired today? >> So we were doing student pictures because it's picture day. >> Okay. >> Um and had gone to the bathroom. I saw her I was sitting in the lobby with some kiddos waiting to get their photo taken. >> And this would be the lobby, right, where the little photo is over here. Okay. >> Um I saw her walk back out. She came back and we were still taking the same photo. Yes. >> Okay. >> Um and she asked if I could check the footage to see what happened while she was in the bathroom to see like why we were so >> upset, >> antsy, agitated, dregulated. I'm not sure the right word. I wasn't in the classroom. Um, I said, "Yeah, not a problem." Um, admittedly, I I should check footage in private. However, I'm >> got a lot going on. Got a lot going on. You got a lot of people. A lot of people come in and out. >> So, I was able to find it. Um, and she happened to be viewing it with me and we saw what you saw. >> Gotcha. >> Um, so I immediately showed Miss >> which is the other woman right next to you, right? >> Correct. um and alerted Miss the other owner. >> Okay. >> Um and she and I mutually decided that Miss Alice needed to be terminated. That's not >> appropriate >> how we treat kids. That's too rough. That's not anything aligned with our standards. >> Um and then we drafted her termination letter. >> I was able to put Miss in the classroom and at >> 12:00 I was able to pull Miss Alice out to ultimately fire her. The testimony of the school director added another layer of clarity. She and another teacher reviewed the recordings and confirmed that it was not a misunderstanding, but a clear use of undue force. She decided to wait until the school day ended before dismissing Wood in order to avoid a public scene with families. An example of how difficult it is to manage a crisis in real time. But that decision also revealed a common practice in educational institutions, softening external communication with terms like altercation, even when internally the seriousness of the conduct was acknowledged. For investigators, this reinforced the idea that the case exposed not only the actions of a single teacher, but also the vulnerability of a center that had already carried a record of similar staff misconduct. >> How did she take it? >> Not good. >> Not well. She it wasn't combative or anything, but she didn't really understand. >> Okay. >> Um she wasn't sure why. >> Mhm. >> Cuz I mean, you could you could see the termination letter if you'd like. It's you know, per DCF in Kid City, we are you do not rough handle children. It's >> subject to immediate termination without prior >> warning or prior strikes or anything like that. Um, she was asking like, "So, he is able to punch me and I move him and I let and I'm let go." And I'm like, "Well, yes. That's not how we treat children." >> Mhm. >> Um, >> so she told you had hit her. >> Yeah. >> And that was a reaction to being hit. >> Yeah. >> Anything else? >> Um, she went to her car. we had uh still and we were making Okay. >> So, with Miss Alice, um I I know we briefly said before she was a teacher, right? In her history. She's just not an active >> um she was a preschool teacher. I don't know if she was ever like a >> grade school teacher. >> Mhm. Because you don't need a degree to be a teacher, right? >> Correct. you do the DCM45. >> Is that like obtaining a degree or going towards a degree when you say continuing education? >> Um, I mean it can help with >> going towards a degree. >> There are things like the childcare developmental. It's the acronym is CDA and it's similar to like getting >> they should attend getting an associates in early childhood. >> Um, and she did have her CDA. >> Okay. And she'd only been employed here for how long? Um, she was hired May, her start date was May 6th >> of 22 24 then >> I I believe. So, >> does her application explain uh what she did before? Was she also a preschool teacher at other locations? >> Uh, she was a preschool teacher at Asbury. >> Okay. >> They their child care preschool area. It's a Methodist church, but their child care center closed >> or lost funding or something and then she she was highly recommended. Okay. >> by people in the community and we've interviewed her and didn't have any >> Yeah, I got it. Um, have you ever had any complaints about her in the past from anybody? Okay. So, this is to my understanding then your first negative interaction [snorts] then with Miss Miss Alice. >> Okay. And you know what? It's unfortunate, but >> it's something that obviously happened. So, it's >> happened. That's not, you know, that's not, we don't want that to ever happen to the kids. And is a good kid. He is a special kid. But I mean, I've in that classroom, I I would not have reacted >> like that. >> Yeah. Um, >> on April the 30th of 2025, just one day after the incident, Alice Wood would be arrested and formally charged with child, a felony under Florida law. Although she was released on bond, she was prohibited from working with minors while the case proceeds in Indian River County. The evidence is overwhelming. Surveillance footage documenting every move, visible injuries on the child's arm, and the behavioral technicians testimony confirming violations of established protocols. Legally, the charge could result in up to 5 years in prison. And if prosecutors prove aggravating factors like the child's vulnerability due to autism and Wood's position of trust as a teacher, the penalties could increase.