March 12, 2024
For Immediate Release
Contact: Chief Erik Costa, 860-638-4100

Press Release - Town and Country Learning Center Arrest

On January 12, 2024, the Middletown Police Special Investigations Unit received a complaint that a 2-year-old child was assaulted by a teacher at the Town & Country Early Learning Center (195 South Main Street in Middletown). The facility notified the complainants of the assault and allowed them to watch internal surveillance video of the incident. The complainants then came to police headquarters and requested that the teacher be arrested. The teacher was later identified as 47-year-old Kristie Kovarcik of 10 Lake Avenue in Haddam, CT.

During the investigation Detectives obtained the surveillance video which confirmed that Kovarcik picked up the minor child and tossed the child to the side. The child’s head then struck a nearby wall causing a minor contusion above his/her right eye. The Director of the facility heard a commotion and pulled up the surveillance camera for Kovarcik’s room. She witnessed Kovarcik toss the child aside and heard the child’s head strike the wall. The Director entered the room and removed the child. She then reported the incident to the parents and DCF as required.

After investigation, Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Kristie Kovarcik charging her with Risk of Injury to a Minor and Reckless Endangerment 2^nd Degree. Kovarcik turned herself in to the police on February 26, 2024. She was processed, released on a Written Promise to Appear, and scheduled to appear in Middletown Court on March 11, 2024.

Town & Country reported that Kovarcik was terminated from her job as a result of this incident.