Woman arrested after allegedly stepping on child at Augusta ABA center

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta woman was arrested Tuesday after surveillance video showed her stepping on a child at Circle City ABA on Wheeler Road, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

Aaniyah Brown, of Augusta, was charged with cruelty to children in the first degree.

Deputies were dispatched to the location at 1:23 p.m. Tuesday in reference to cruelty to children. A complainant told deputies Brown assaulted a juvenile.

The complainant said the incident occurred at 11:31 a.m. and was brought to her attention. She said she consulted the security video system and observed Brown push the child away with her foot twice, then held the child down by stepping on his lower back, officials say.

The complainant said as the child was trying to get up, Brown placed a foot on his face and pushed him away, according to the incident report.

Authorities say deputies watched the video and saw the events as described.

According to the incident report, Brown said she was only using her foot to keep the child from harming her.

Brown was then arrested at around 4:20 p.m. and transported to the Richmond County Jail, officials say.