PUBLIC SAFETY

Indianapolis day-care worker arrested and accused of molesting 4-year-old girl

By Dwight Adams, dwight.adams@indystar.com
Ali Al-Awadi, 20, Indianapolis faces a preliminary charge of molestation, police said. He was arrested on Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, on a report of a fondling of a 4-year-old girl at a day-care center in Indianapolis.

A 20-year-old man was arrested Friday on accusations of abusing a child at a Far-Northside day-care center, police said.

A report from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said a 4-year-old girl was allegedly fondled Friday by a staff member at the Children's Choice Learning Center at St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital.

Ali Al-Awadi, 20, Indianapolis, faces a preliminary charge of molestation in the case, said Sgt. Kendale Adams, an IMPD spokesman, on Saturday.

According to the police report, officers dispatched on a report of a child molestation went to the emergency room in the pediatric division of St. Vincent Hospital Indianapolis, where they meet the child and her mother. The mother then told police that her daugher was molested by a teacher at the day-care center, the report said.

"The 4-year-old girl was able to tell police what happened," Adams said. "She told her mother and she told detectives her version of what happened."

Al-Awadi is being held at the Marion County Jail, Adams said.

Adams said no other information was yet available on the case, which is still under investigation.

The day care is managed by a company called Bright Horizons but is located on the property of the St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital on West 86th Street. The center provides child-care services for hospital employees.

A spokesperson for St. Vincent says the suspect, who is employed by Children's Choice Learning Center, has been suspended.

The following statement was released by the hospital on Friday:

"We are committed to the health and safety of all children and are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities to investigate the alleged incident at our independently contracted daycare facility, Children's Choice Learning Center. Our hearts are with those who have been affected by this difficult situation."

A representative from the day-care center released this statement Friday:

"The teacher had a clear background and reference check at the time of hire. Like all teachers at the center, the teacher underwent an independent third party background check, in addition to what is required by the state of Indiana. No other teachers, parents or children have reported any concerns.

"Our most important responsibility is to ensure the health and safety of the children in our care. As we would any time a concern was brought to us, we are taking this situation very seriously. As soon as it was brought to our attention, we placed the teacher on administrative leave. We also reported it to the appropriate children's agencies. We will support the agencies and local authorities in any way we can as they look into what may have happened."

Fox59 contributed to this story. Call Star Night Editor Dwight Adams at (317) 444-6521 or follow him on Twitter: @hdwightadams.