Day care worker arrested on reckless endangerment charge

A day care worker was arrested for reckless endangerment following reports that she aggressively shook a child.

The suspect, De’Erika Faye Stephens, surrendered Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 4:48 p.m. after a misdemeanor warrant was obtained.

Hoover police were first notified of the incident on Aug. 27. Video surveillance reportedly showed Stephens, a Bright Horizons Family Solutions employee, grabbing a child and forcefully shaking him. The child was picked up by his parents and has been examined by a physician. He did not have any apparent injuries.

Detectives presented their findings to the Shelby County District Attorney’s office for review following a review of the video footage and interviews. The district attorney’s office declined a warrant. The case was later presented to Hoover City Magistrate’s Office and a misdemeanor warrant for reckless endangerment was issued on Sept. 25.

Stephens posted the $1,000 bond and her first court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 2 in Hoover Municipal Court.