A 52-year-old day care director in Hialeah struck a 3-year-old boy on his left thigh with an open hand while changing his diaper, leaving a visible handprint, according to Hialeah Police.

The victim's mother reported the incident to Hialeah police on Oct. 11, according to the arrest report.

She said the boy's grandmother picked him up from the day care on the previous day and noticed the handprint marking on his left thigh area.

The day care owner told CBS News Miami the 3-year-old victim is still attending the day care.  

Day care owner: Incident "out of character" for teacher

Natasha Johnson, owner of EZ Daycare and Learning Center, where the incident took place, said she has operated the center for seven years without any issues involving her staff.

"It's something completely out of character for our teacher," Johnson said. "Everyone on our team is hurt because, you know, she was part of our team at one point."

Johnson said Alcala was fired one day after the incident.

"Our priority is the safety of our children, so I made sure that whatever needed to be dealt with was handled, and whoever was responsible was held accountable," she said.

Johnson said she relied on security cameras inside the daycare to protect everyone involved.

"Anything I can do to keep an eye on everything that's going on at all times—whether I'm here or not—is my top priority," she said. "That's all I can do." 

Video footage and investigation

A day care staffer reviewed video footage and notified the mother the next day that it showed director Rosa Iriarte Alcala striking the victim while changing his diaper, according to the report.  

The video footage showed Alcala using her right hand to strike the victim's lower extremities.

Police said photos taken showed visible redness on the left thigh consistent with being struck by an adult hand, with the outline of two fingers still printed on the skin.

Alcala turned herself in on Oct. 16 for an interview, where she confessed, the report states.

She was arrested on a third-degree felony charge of child abuse without great bodily harm, transported to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional (TGK) and booked.