Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jamya Keondra Souter, 26, was arrested last night for allegedly throwing a 21-month-old child from her lap to the floor.
On August 20, the Gainesville Police Department received a report from an anonymous source concerning a video that potentially depicted child abuse. The footage showed a toddler on an adult’s lap, identified as Souter. While styling the child’s hair, the toddler began to cry; the video allegedly captures Souter striking the child on the head five times. Moments after the crying started, Souter is shown throwing the child into the air, about three to four feet high. The child then lands on their back on a wooden floor. Another adult is seen picking up the child as Souter exits the room. Though the video was filmed on August 19, law enforcement was only alerted after the anonymous individual came forward.
An officer spoke to a witness who reportedly said Souter had been thrown out of the residence after the incident.
Another observer reportedly mentioned that Souter was combing the child’s hair and became upset when the child started crying. The observer stated she did not witness Souter hitting the child but offered to take her because Souter was “getting agitated.” According to the observer, as she approached Souter, Souter abruptly stood up, tossed the child from her lap, and exclaimed, “You take her!” The observer then picked up the child, who was now sobbing uncontrollably.
Souter voluntarily went to GPD Headquarters for an interview. After being read her Miranda rights, she allegedly confessed to being angry with the child for not sitting still and for crying; she admitted to hitting the child out of anger. Souter reportedly claimed that when the observer came to take the child, she stood up quickly with the intention of placing the child on the couch, but instead, the child ended up on the floor. She insisted this was accidental but reiterated that her anger stemmed from the child’s crying.
Souter faces charges of child abuse without great bodily harm. She does not have a local criminal record, and Judge Jonathan Ramsey has released her on her own recognizance.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are drawn from the arrest report and/or court documents and are only allegations. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
