Rhode Island woman accused of striking 6-year-old with significant developmental impairments multiple times after video surfaces

CRANSTON, RI – Colonel Michael Winquist, Chief of Police, has announced the arrest of a former employee of Ocean State Academy following an investigation into an assault involving a young student.

On Tuesday, at just after 9:00 a.m., Cranston Police officers responded to Ocean State Academy, located at 1301 Elmwood Avenue, for a report of an assault. School administrators reported that they had received information from a parent alleging that a staff member had assaulted a student the previous day.

During the initial investigation, officers reviewed video evidence provided by the school. The video showed a staff member striking a 6-year-old student multiple times with an open hand inside a classroom. The child is reported to have significant developmental impairments and limited verbal ability.

The staff member, identified as 32-year–old Timesha Harley of Providence, was immediately terminated by the school upon discovery of the incident. The victim’s parent was notified and expressed a desire to pursue criminal charges.

Following the investigation, Cranston Police obtained an arrest warrant for Harley, charging her with Assault on a Person with Severe Impairments (R.I.G.L. 11-5-11).

On Tuesday, at approximately 5:02 p.m., Cranston Police officers located Harley at her residence in Providence and took her into custody without incident. She was transported to Cranston Police Headquarters, where she was processed, arraigned by a bail commissioner and released on $10,000 personal recognizance. She was ordered not to have contact with the victim and to appear in Third District Court in Warwick on April 23rd.

The victim is receiving appropriate care and support. The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families was notified and is involved in the ongoing review.

Colonel Winquist stated, “This is an extremely disturbing case involving a vulnerable child who was placed in the care of an adult entrusted with her safety and well-being. The actions captured in this incident are unacceptable and will not be tolerated under any circumstances. I want to commend the school administration for promptly reporting the incident and cooperating fully with our investigation, as well as our officers for their swift and thorough response. The Cranston Police Department remains committed to protecting our most vulnerable residents and ensuring those who harm them are held fully accountable.”

This remains an active case. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Cranston Police Department by calling 942-2211 or anonymously by texting the keyword CRANSTONPD to 847411.

All individual(s) are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.