Park Ridge Police investigated a report on Thursday, July 2nd, 2026, that an employee of the Kiddie Academy Day Care, 109 South Washington Avenue in Park Ridge had struck a four-year-old child in the stomach earlier in the day. The incident was reported to the police by the daycare director along with the victim’s parent.
The incident was captured on a surveillance camera and showed the employee, Olivia Cepeda, age 29, of Glenview, striking the victim multiple times on the chest and stomach area while the child was lying on the floor. Throughout the investigation, Kiddie Academy staff cooperated fully with the Park Ridge Police Department and provided information needed to obtain formal charges of suspect Olivia Cepeda.
Cepeda was taken into custody because of the investigation. The Cook County States Attorney’s Office approved a felony charge of Aggravated Battery to a Child Under the age of 13 Years Old.
Cepeda’s first court appearance is scheduled for July 7th at 1:30 PM in Room #105 at the Cook County Second District Courthouse in Skokie.
Pre-trial hearing detention information was not initially available.
The public is reminded that suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.
— Park Ridge Police Department
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