2 workers at Little City in Palatine accused of hitting boy

The Cook County sheriff's office arrested two former employees at Little City in Palatine who have been accused of punching an 11-year-old boy and hitting him with a bucket.

Forest Park resident Ronkeia Harper, 22, and Palatine resident Lisa Archer, 39, were charged Feb. 12 with aggravated battery, sheriff's office spokeswoman Sophia Ansari said. They both appeared in bond court on Feb. 13, and each paid $500 to bond out.

One of the employees is accused of holding the boy while the other employee punched and hit him with a bucket, according to the sheriff's office. The boy, who was a resident at Little City, was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.

Little City spokesman Larry Heisler said Harper and Archer were placed on administrative leave virtually immediately after the incident on Dec. 1.

"They were fired within five days of being placed on leave," Heisler said Friday. "They've been long gone."

Heisler said Little City followed the appropriate protocol and contacted DCFS, which conducted its own investigation. Heisler said it is the responsibility of DCFS to contact law enforcement after completing its investigation.

Veronica Resa, a spokeswoman for DCFS, said the agency began looking into the allegations on Dec. 2.

Ansari said the sheriff's office received the agency's report on Jan. 23 and began its own investigation, which concluded with the arrests of Harper and Archer.

Heisler said: "We support and applaud the efforts of the authorities, including the Cook County sheriff and state's attorney, in helping us address matters like this so we can stay true to our mission of taking care of the most vulnerable members of our society."