FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. – Newly released body camera video is revealing details about what happened after a two-year-old boy wandered away from a daycare and onto a busy highway.
The incident happened on June 12 at the Luv-N-Hugs Learning Center, located on Fountain Street near U.S. Hwy 27.
The video showed an officer as he responded to the daycare and questioned Halee Russo, who was arrested on a charge of child neglect.
In the video, Russo first told the officer she only lost track of the toddler for a few seconds and quickly caught up to him near the daycare’s entrance.
“All of a sudden, I see the gate swing open, and I left my kids unattended for a second, and I had to run out after him,” Russo said. “It was probably about five seconds because I was at the front gate and the gate he went out of was the back gate.”
[WATCH: Florida daycare worker arrested after child escapes, runs into street]
The officer pressed Russo on the statement, as her account differed from what was seen on surveillance video.
Russo then changed her statement and said she was told by her boss to lie because there were concerns about the daycare being shut down.
“It was different, because I was doing what my boss told me to say because she didn’t want to get this center shut down,” Russo said.
According to investigators, multiple drivers saw the child in the road, and one brought them back to the daycare.
Russo said she confirmed the gate was locked and the child likely crawled under the gate through a gap.
Russo told the officer her boss said to lie so the daycare wouldn’t be closed, the affidavit stated.
According to state records, Luv-N-Hugs was found in non-compliance in April for inadequate supervision.
The Department of Children and Families visited the facility again on June 12 in response to the incident.
On Thursday, Desiree Everett, the owner of Luv-N-Hugs, issued a statement apologizing for what happened.
“We would like to formally apologize to the parents of the child involved in the recent incident. We are deeply grateful that the child is safe and unharmed,” Everett said. We remain committed to serving our community and ensuring a safe, nurturing environment for every child.
Russo was released from jail on a $2,500 bond and has an arraignment scheduled for July 6.