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Sandra Yi reporting Sandy police continue to investigate allegations of child abuse at a popular day care. Investigators have received more complaints from parents since police served a search warrant at the Willowcreek Childrens Center on Friday. The day care is still open.
Meanwhile, officers are interviewing more people who called police after seeing news reports of the investigation. That investigation centers around allegations of child physical and emotional abuse at the day care.
Officers on Friday served a search warrant and seized undisclosed evidence. The Department of Child and Family Services called police after receiving 4 complaints from parents and former employees. In the past few days, police have received several more complaints from parents who say their children were also victims of abuse.
"I think also as the allegations come, it's not just an isolated incident," said Michelle Burnette, Sandy Police Department. "It looks like it's happened to more than one child and so we take all allegations seriously and investigate them fully."
Police say the allegations include verbal abuse, such as screaming and using inappropriate language with the kids at the day care, as well as physical abuse, like hitting that left marks.
Two years ago the Health Department cited the day care, after receiving similar complaints of child physical and verbal abuse.
Criminal charges in this case may be filed against the day care's owner as early as next week. The Health Department could also revoke its license.
We should mention that police have also received several calls from parents who praised the day care. In fact - we talked to parents last week - who said the quality of care here is more than satisfactory.
The owner was not available for comment.
