Thomas Coleman, 42, who is accused of physically assaulting a child at the Hatboro KinderCare (378 S Warminster Road) on March 23, had been previously investigated for his conduct with students but was allowed to return to work, the Bucks County Courier Times reported.

According to their coverage, Coleman was a daycare administrator at the school and assaulted four-year-old boy with autism after he became frustrated with the child over a puzzle.

Coleman reportedly threw the boy into a chair and desk “with such force he left bruises and scratches on the child”, the Courier Times said. The boy’s mother told police that she noticed red scratch marks on her son’s neck when she picked him up that day, and Coleman told her they were self-inflicted.

A doctor found bruising on his back and neck and a chiropractor said his hips were out of alignment following the incident.

The daycare director told police she put Coleman on administrative leave and filed a ChildLine report of suspected abuse with the state. The director also confirmed that Coleman had been investigated twice “for complaints against him involving putting a child down on a mat too hard and yelling at a student”, the Courier Times wrote.

Coleman was arrested by Hatboro police on June 18 for simple assault and endangering the welfare of a child. His next court date scheduled for July 2.

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Photo: HPD