Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities detained 33-year-old Sasha Jean-Baptiste following accusations of harming two young children, resulting in visible scars.
On July 4, officers from the Gainesville Police Department were called to a home in the Woodland Terrace area. A male witness informed police that Jean-Baptiste had allegedly used physical force on two children, aged 4 and 1, leaving them with lasting scars.
The witness claimed he noticed numerous injuries on the children while they were in the care of Jean-Baptiste. He mentioned that Jean-Baptiste had exhibited increased emotional volatility and aggression towards the children. Additionally, he reported hearing loud thuds coming from the bedroom when the children were alone with Jean-Baptiste, expressing concern that she might have been throwing the children against the wall in anger.
Police observations revealed that the 4-year-old had a long, narrow scar across his upper back, accompanied by a scab on his lower back and scabs on his forearm. The 1-year-old was found with three scars on her face, according to reports.
Post Miranda, Jean-Baptiste reportedly said she is not excessively physical with the children, and she only spanks them when absolutely necessary; she said she raises her voice, but she never goes beyond “popping” the children, and she demonstrated this by hitting her own arm forcefully.
When asked about the children’s injuries, Jean-Baptiste reportedly said the older child is “very active and clumsy,” and when he runs around, he frequently runs into objects; she said she is working on that problem. She said the younger child’s scars are from bug bites that she scratched. When she was asked why the children are only injured when they are alone with her, she reportedly said they “run into everything.”
A female witness who lives in the home reportedly said the older child is very coordinated and has excellent gross motor skills for a child his age. She said the child plays without falling or running into things in all parts of the house except Jean-Baptiste’s room, and she said the children play in their own bedroom without getting injured; she said the new injuries are always noticed after the children have been alone with Jean-Baptiste. She added that she hears loud noises when the children are in Jean-Baptiste’s room, and it sounds like something is hitting the walls, followed by a child’s scream; she said that after she hears that, Jean-Baptiste says the children have injured themselves. She said Jean-Baptiste and the male witness argue “constantly” about her use of too much force on the children, but Jean-Baptiste never answers the criticisms, and she added that the male witness has started staying home more to make sure the children aren’t alone with Jean-Baptiste.
A second female witness concurred that the older child is athletic and very capable for his age, and she said neither child is clumsy. She described the children as “acrobatic, adventurous, and strong.”
A second male witness reportedly agreed that the children “are athletic and have great coordination.”
Jean-Baptiste has been charged with two counts of child abuse without great bodily harm. She has no local criminal history, and Judge Jonathan Ramsey set bail at $20,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.