Brookhaven police arrested a lead teacher and the director of a neighborhood preschool this week after investigators say a teacher used “excessive measures” to restrain very young children in a classroom. The lead teacher, 27-year-old Charles K. Wheeler, faces multiple counts of first-degree child cruelty, and 63-year-old Beverly J. Moon was arrested on a related charge tied to failing to report alleged abuse. Authorities say the children involved are roughly 11 months to 3 years old, and the criminal investigation is still underway.
Local coverage has identified the school under investigation as Oglethorpe Presbyterian Pre-School & Kindergarten on Lanier Drive. According to WSB-TV, Wheeler was initially arrested on May 6 on five counts, with a sixth count added after another reported victim came forward. The station reports both Wheeler and Moon are being held in the DeKalb County Jail.
A Brookhaven detective began looking into the classroom in early May after information surfaced during a related investigation in April, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. The outlet reports that state child welfare and early care officials from the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services and the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning conducted parallel reviews that lined up with the local findings.
School named in neighborhood reporting
WSB-TV identified the center as Oglethorpe Presbyterian Pre-School & Kindergarten. The program’s site lists its office and preschool contact at 3016 Lanier Dr. NE in Brookhaven, and public pages describe a preschool program and provide director contact details for families. The school’s own Oglethorpe Presbyterian Preschool & Kindergarten contact information confirms the Lanier Drive location.
Mandated reporters and what the law requires
Under Georgia law, people who work with children, including preschool staff, are considered mandated reporters and must notify the Division of Family and Children Services or law enforcement if they have reasonable cause to suspect abuse. The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services operates a statewide intake line and publishes guidance on how to report suspected child abuse and neglect, according to the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services.
Police ask for tips from parents and staff
Brookhaven Police are asking anyone with information about the case to contact detectives, and media reports note the department tip line at 404-637-0600. The city’s police pages highlight the department’s Public Safety Building address and list contact information for investigators handling local cases, according to the Brookhaven Police Department…