Fairfax County preschool employee charged in assault of students, employees (Video)

WASHINGTON — A violent outburst involving children and staffers at a Fairfax County preschool ended with an employee in handcuffs.

The incident occurred about 1 p.m. Tuesday at Chesterbrook Academy Preschool in Centreville, Virginia, when “a cook and longtime employee had a sudden outburst of uncontrolled behavior,” the preschool said in a statement to ABC7.

Veronica Bailey, a 33-year-old cook at the preschool, is accused of assaulting three children, the daycare’s principal and two staffers, according to ABC 7.

No one was seriously hurt.

Bailey is charged with five counts of assault and battery and destruction of property.

Fairfax County Police tell ABC 7 Bailey is scheduled to undergo a mental health evaluation.

No one went to the hospital, but parents are concerned because the situation occurred in a school that cares for infants and toddlers.

“It’s scary, it’s very scary. You don’t know what could happen,” parent Rick Flagg tells ABC 7.

Flagg says he knows Bailey and is surprised by the allegations.

“She actually had my kids in her room — she was a real nice person,” he adds.

The statement ABC 7 received from the daycare says staff quickly implemented emergency procedures and police arrived promptly. Also, “The employee is no longer with Chesterbrook Academy and we are grateful that no one was seriously injured.”

Watch the ABC7 report:

WTOP’s Kristi King contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and WTOP on Facebook.

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