A daycare worker in Paragould, Arkansas, has been arrested after police alleged that she dragged a four-year-old child down a hallway inside a pediatric daycare center, an incident that has raised serious concerns about child safety and supervision in childcare facilities. The case has drawn widespread attention after the child’s family spoke publicly about how they learned of the incident and questioned the daycare’s response.
Authorities say Nola Burney now faces second-degree battery charges, while the investigation remains ongoing. The daycare has confirmed that Burney is no longer employed at the facility and has announced an internal review of its safety procedures. As investigators continue examining the case, the family of four-year-old Julius Miller is seeking answers about what happened and why they were not informed immediately.
Police Arrest Daycare Worker After Investigation Into Hallway Incident
According to the Paragould Police Department, Nola Burney was arrested after investigators collected documents and surveillance video from AR Kids Pediatric Day Center, where the incident allegedly took place. Police say Burney has been charged with second-degree battery in connection with the alleged treatment of four-year-old Julius Miller. Following her arrest, she was booked into the Greene County Detention Center, where she is being held on a $100,000 surety bond.
Authorities have not publicly released many details regarding the surveillance footage, but they confirmed that investigators reviewed video evidence as part of the case before making the arrest. Police also stated that the investigation remains active, meaning additional information cannot yet be released. Because of the ongoing investigation, officials have declined to provide further comments or make the surveillance footage available to the public.
The alleged incident occurred inside AR Kids Pediatric Day Center in Paragould. While investigators have not disclosed every detail surrounding the event, the central allegation is that Burney dragged the four-year-old boy down a hallway inside the daycare facility. Such allegations have generated significant concern because childcare workers are expected to provide a safe and supportive environment for young children, particularly those entrusted to their care during the day.
The arrest followed the collection of evidence rather than an immediate criminal complaint. Investigators reportedly gathered documents from the daycare as well as video footage before determining there was sufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges. At this stage, authorities have not announced whether additional charges could be considered, and they continue reviewing all aspects of the incident.
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Police have also confirmed that the surveillance video will not be released while the investigation is ongoing. Officials say they are unable to discuss additional findings or details until the investigative process has been completed. This means many questions surrounding exactly what occurred inside the hallway remain unanswered publicly, although investigators continue reviewing the available evidence.
The criminal charge of second-degree battery indicates that authorities believe the alleged conduct met the legal threshold for prosecution under Arkansas law. However, as with any criminal case, the charge represents an allegation, and Burney will have the opportunity to respond through the judicial process as the case proceeds.
Family Says They Learned About Incident Days Later and Wants More Answers
While police continued gathering evidence, Julius Miller’s family has publicly shared its concerns about how the daycare handled the situation. According to Julius’ mother, Dana Johnson, she did not learn about the alleged incident immediately after it occurred. Instead, she said she was informed three days later after the child’s father contacted her, saying they needed to sign an incident report prepared by the daycare.
Johnson said she was surprised that the daycare had not contacted law enforcement following the incident. Believing the matter required police involvement, she personally contacted the Paragould Police Department to report what had happened. She said this decision ultimately led to the criminal investigation that resulted in Burney’s arrest. According to Johnson, daycare staff explained that they initially reported the incident to a manager instead of immediately notifying police or the child’s family. She also questioned the accuracy of the written report that was sent home with her son following the day in question.
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Johnson said the daily report indicated that Julius had spent the day sleeping, a description she believes was inconsistent with what actually occurred. She said her son’s own account of the incident did not match the information provided by the daycare. The discrepancy between the written report and the child’s description has become one of the family’s primary concerns. Johnson said she could not understand why the written documentation failed to mention what allegedly happened in the hallway.
Instead, she said the report portrayed the day as routine, despite what her son later described. She believes parents deserve immediate and accurate communication whenever an incident involving a child occurs. The following Monday, Johnson returned to the daycare expecting changes would already have been made following the reported incident. Instead, she said she found Julius still assigned to the same classroom as Burney. According to Johnson, Burney remained at work while the family completed paperwork related to the incident.
Johnson said that after she and other family members signed the incident report, daycare staff simply sent Burney to lunch. She described that sequence of events as deeply troubling because she expected stronger action to have already been taken given the seriousness of the allegations. Johnson also revealed that she was present when police officers reviewed surveillance footage from inside the daycare. Although investigators reportedly showed the video to officers during the investigation, Johnson said she was not allowed to watch the recording herself and has still not been given access to it.
She also said the daycare never provided a detailed explanation regarding why the incident happened. According to Johnson, the only information she received was that Julius had left the classroom and staff members were attempting to return him inside. She said she still does not understand why the situation allegedly escalated to the point where her son was dragged through the hallway. Beyond seeking accountability, Johnson said she wants her son to know that speaking up about uncomfortable or frightening experiences is important.
She expressed hope that the family’s response demonstrates to Julius that children should never be afraid to tell trusted adults when something has happened to them. Julius himself also described the experience in simple but powerful language. According to his mother, the four-year-old said, “He flew me across the hall and flew me like a boomerang.” He added, “I felt like a pencil.” His description has become one of the most widely shared aspects of the case because it reflects the event from the child’s own perspective.
Daycare Responds as Internal Review Begins and Investigation Continues
Following Burney’s arrest, AR Kids Pediatric Day Center confirmed that she is no longer employed by the organization. The daycare also issued a public statement addressing the incident and outlining its response. Senior Vice President Kevin James stated that the safety of children and families remains the organization’s highest priority. He described the alleged behavior as completely unacceptable and said it does not reflect the values, standards, or culture of AR Kids Pediatric Day Centers.
The daycare further announced that it has begun conducting an internal review of its employee training programs and safety procedures. According to the statement, the review is intended to evaluate existing policies and identify any improvements that could help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The organization also expressed its intention to ensure that the alleged event remains an isolated incident. While the statement did not discuss specific disciplinary actions beyond confirming Burney’s departure from employment, it emphasized the importance of maintaining a safe environment for every child entrusted to the daycare’s care.
Despite the daycare’s public response, several questions remain unanswered as the police investigation continues. Investigators have not disclosed precisely what the surveillance footage shows, nor have they explained whether additional witnesses have been interviewed or whether more evidence is still being gathered. The family’s inability to view the surveillance video has also become a significant issue. While law enforcement often limits access to evidence during active investigations, Johnson has said she continues to seek a clearer understanding of exactly what happened to her son inside the daycare facility.
The case has also renewed broader conversations about reporting procedures within childcare centers. Parents generally expect daycare providers to communicate promptly whenever an injury, behavioral incident, or safety concern involves their child. In this case, Johnson has questioned why she was not notified immediately and why police were not contacted by the daycare itself. As criminal proceedings move forward, the legal process will determine the outcome of the charges against Burney.
Prosecutors will present evidence gathered during the investigation, while Burney will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations in court. Until then, the second-degree battery charge remains an allegation that has yet to be resolved through the judicial system. Meanwhile, Paragould police have reiterated that the investigation remains active. Officials continue reviewing evidence and have declined to release additional information or the surveillance video while the case is pending. The daycare’s internal review is also expected to continue alongside the criminal investigation.
For Julius Miller and his family, however, the focus remains on understanding exactly what occurred and ensuring accountability through the legal process. Johnson has repeatedly emphasized that she wants her son to know that speaking up matters and that when children tell adults about something that happened to them, their concerns should be taken seriously. As investigators continue their work and court proceedings begin, the case remains under close attention from both local authorities and the community.