Authorities believe that the snow shovel a Martha’s Mini Daycare in Ronan employee used to try and defend the children under her care, is the same snow shovel an unknown woman used to bludgeon her face.

The incident began Oct. 7 when Jackson and an unknown woman went to the daycare center to pick up Jackson’s three biological children, whom are all under four years old, a Lake County Court affidavit said. 

But the employee who met Jackson knew his parental custody rights were suspended by Tribal Services, and refused to give him the children. 

Jackson also smelled of alcohol, the affidavit said.

Enraged, Jackson yelled at the employee and threatened to assault her, the records said.

The employee was able to get Jackson out of her building and lock him out even though he told the employee he could take his kids.

Once outside, Jackson went to the front of the daycare center and began throwing toys into the picture window of the building in an attempt to re-enter the facility, the affidavit said.

One of those toys was a tricycle, records said.

The employee went outside to defend her children with a snow shovel. And that is when Jackson turned his threats into an assault and began assaulting the employee.

Prosecutors believe that during their struggle, Jackson punched the employee which caused her to lose control of the shovel.

That is when the unknown woman picked up the shovel and hit the employee in the face, the affidavit said.  

The employee then fell to the ground. 

Jackson and the unknown woman fled the scene in a vehicle, the affidavit said.

She was transported to St. Luke’s Community Hospital with her injuries and received severe facial bruising.