Three adults were arrested this
afternoon after an investigation determined they were involved in physical andmental abuse of an autistic child.
Charged with cruelty toward a
child were:
- Rose Patton James, 53, of the1100 block of Candlewood, Pensacola.
- Kemon O’Brian Johnson, 19, 1400
block of Fairchild, Pensacola.
- Jarrett Peter Clifton, 20, 900block of East Johnson Avenue.
The incident was reported to
police on February 28 by an investigator with the Department of Children andFamilies. The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. December 30, 2016 at the Gull
Point Recreation Center. James, Johnson and Clifton were employed at the centerthrough Keegan Staffing.
Surveillance video from the
center showed Johnson repeatedly threatening the 12-year-old male with a metalstick, and at one point he grabbed the child and pushed him to the ground. It
also showed James slapping the child in the face and kicking him, and Johnsonand Clifton dragging the child by his arms out of camera view.
The child was attending camp at
the center during winter break, and his mother contacted the abuse hot lineafter the child said one of the caregivers had been mean to him. Video showed
the child kicking a pipe and his lunch bag across the gym floor but not towardanyone prior to the abuse.
Detective Shannan Briarton said a
motive for the incident remains under investigation. Briarton saidapproximately a dozen children were in the gym when the incident occurred. Briarton
said James had worked at the center for approximately three years and Cliftonand Johnson had worked for approximately a couple of weeks.
Anyone with information on the
incident is asked to contact Detective Shannan Briarton at 435 – 1978.