Two Leland daycare employees suspended in child abuse investigation
LELAND, NC (WWAY) — Two employees at a Leland child care center have been suspended as authorities investigate allegations of child abuse involving a 3-year-old boy.
The investigation centers on Childcare Network on Village Road, where Leland Police responded Friday morning after receiving a report of alleged abuse and misconduct.
Video obtained by WWAY shows what allegedly happened inside the daycare.
In the footage, an adult is heard yelling at a 3-year-old to stop crying. An open, dark closet is visible on the right-hand side of the screen with a staff member standing in the doorway. Seconds later, a child emerges and is forcefully guided out.
After receiving a tip, WWAY went to the daycare on Friday morning and saw a Leland police officer on scene.
“I know we’re looking into it now, and I think DSS, or whoever the state, they mentioned state, so they’re involved too,” said Officer Williams with the Leland Police Department.
The child’s mother, who would like to remain anonymous and was identified as “Sarah,” said staff also sprayed soapy water into her son’s mouth.
“My child is traumatized from this. He cries every day when I drop him off at school. If his teacher is not in there, he’s crying,” she said.
She said daycare directors never informed her about either incident, and that she learned about it from another teacher. She said the lack of communication has raised broader concerns.
“I was in disbelief. I didn’t know what really happened, and he didn’t really clarify anything for me. The only person that clarified anything for me was one of the 3-year-old teachers, so it just makes me wonder what else is going on in the facility that they’re not telling parents about,” she said.
The North Carolina Division of Social Services has also been contacted, according to authorities.
State officials conducted an unannounced visit to the daycare on Thursday, unrelated to the allegations, and documented three violations, including not enough mulch around the playground, debris on the playground, and torn seats on a bus covered with tape.
WWAY reached out to the daycare for a comment, but when we called, they hung up.
In a statement, Childcare Network said the employees involved have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
“The safety and well-being of the children and families we serve is our highest priority. We are aware of this matter and are taking it seriously. The staff members involved have been suspended pending the outcome of an active investigation, and we are cooperating fully with state agencies.
We have also launched an internal review of our protocols and are reinforcing expectations across our team. We are committed to ensuring that every child in our care is in a safe, nurturing, and high-quality environment, and we will take every step necessary to uphold that commitment.”
The child’s mother said she has since removed her son from the daycare.
