PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – A woman was arrested on a child abuse charge after police say a nanny cam caught video of her spanking a 7-month-old girl.
Dawn Richards, 47, is seen on the video, apparently spanking the baby, pulling her leg and roughly turning her over onto a pillow, police said.
WATCH: Nanny-cam video
Investigators said that later in the video, Richards tried to force the baby to drink her bottle, and when the baby did not comply, Richards appeared frustrated, smacked the child on the hand and threatened another slap.
There is no sound on the video, but Pembroke Pines police said the baby screamed and cried while the incident took place.
Richards was arrested May 29, 11 days after it happened, when the baby's parents pursued charges of child abuse.
An Internet search pulled up the nanny's bio and picture on a childcare placement website on which the baby's family found her.
Fernando Sosa, Richards' next-door neighbor, is friends with her. He said Richards watched his three daughters frequently over the past year.
"I don't know the situation that happened to her, but for me, I feel like she is a normal person. I trust her," Sosa said. "She's fine. She's a very nice person. She's open to everybody. My kids are happy with her. Everybody loves her."
Richards would not talk to WJXT's sister station in Miami, WPLG, about what happened. Instead, she handed over her lawyer's name and number.