Cordell Baugh-Samuels is accused of aggressively lifting and throwing an 11-year-old foster child in Florida, according to the police. (Sumter County Jail)
A 41-year-old man who worked with FloridaA 41-year-old man who worked with abused foster children in Florida, prior to their placement with a family, has been accused of aggressively grabbing and throwing an 11-year-old girl onto a couch, according to authorities. The girl bore handprint-shaped bruises from the incident, as per the police.
Cordell Baugh-Samuels is facing a charge of child abuse. Wildwood police were called to a Department of Children and Families Kids Central facility on April 29 due to a report of abuse, a probable cause arrest affidavit said.
The girl stated that on April 24, Baugh-Samuels, who was her assigned case manager, allegedly seized and threw her onto a couch. The girl, who is in a temporary foster placement, displayed two bruises on her left arm that appeared to be from being forcefully grabbed, as detailed in the affidavit.
“It should be noted that these marks were still visible five days after the incident,” detectives wrote.
After reviewing video footage of the incident, the police observed Baugh-Samuels standing in the doorway while the girl tried to leave the room. He prevented her from doing so and directed her to go to the couch.
“The victim became upset and attempted to crawl out the door, at which time the defendant aggressively grabbed the victim, picked her up from under the armpits, lifted her over the couch, and threw her onto the couch,” cops wrote.
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The video revealed that the child then started hitting her head on a wall. Baugh-Samuels went up to the girl “in an intimidating manner” and appeared to yell at her, the affidavit said.
“The victim instantly balled up, lifted her arms, and tucked her face down, indicative of trying to shield herself in fear,” cops wrote.
A witness informed the police that he shouted at the girl something along the lines of “you’re not going to pull that sh–,” according to the affidavit.
During an interview with detectives, Baugh-Samuels claimed he “guided” the girl back to the couch after she attempted to leave. He expressed unawareness of the presence of video cameras in the room. He was apprehended by the police and taken to the Sumter County Detention Center, from where he has since been released on bond. His next court date is set for June 17.
According to its website, Kids Central is a nonprofit agency that treats and prevents child abuse in Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties. DCF contacts with the agency after Florida privatized child abuse treatment and prevention.