Police: Man attacked daycare owner in face with shovel

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A Montana daycare owner is recovering from injuries after authorities say she was bashed in the face with a shovel for refusing to hand three young children over to their father.

Authorities say the father was drunk and didn’t have legal custody of the children. Martha McClure was caring for Francis Jackson’s three children Monday when he showed up at her Ronan daycare center with a woman.

Court documents say the daycare owner was able to get Jackson to leave and locked the door, but then he started throwing things at the window.

Authorities say both Jackson and the woman attacked McClure and then took off without the children.

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