ALPINE, Calif. (CNS) - An allegation of child abuse at an eastern San Diego County daycare center was under investigation today, authorities reported.
An Alpine Children's Academy employee allegedly poured water on a sleeping 18-month-old girl, videotaped the act and posted the footage on social media, according to sheriff's officials and Hunan Arshakian, owner of the daycare center in the 2400 block of Alpine Boulevard.
The baby did not suffer any injuries, Arshakian said, adding that a motive for the alleged abuse was unclear. The purported crime was reported Wednesday afternoon. Upon learning about it an hour later, the director of the facility immediately fired the teacher's aide suspected of doing it and reported it to authorities, Arshakian said.
A second employee believed to have been involved in the episode also was terminated, he said. Their names have not been released.
Child-abuse detectives are investigating the matter, sheriff's Lt. Kevin Ralph said. The baby's parents were immediately notified elected to keep the girl enrolled in the daycare center, Arshakian said.
The daycare center sent the following statement to 10News following the incident:
We at Alpine Children’s Academy take this incident extremely seriously. We strive to create a safe and loving environment for our children and are saddened and disturbed that such a horrific abuse occurred to one of our dear children at our school. The actions you see in this video are disgusting and we do not tolerate this type of behavior. The responsible teachers have been terminated and state licensing well as law enforcement have been notified of these actions so that an investigation can take place. We want to thank our current families for their support and for continuing their child’s enrolment at Alpine Children’s Academy.
We sincerely apologize to our families and our community.
Many parents picking up their kids at the daycare, said they would furious if that someone did that to their child, but they felt it was an isolated incident, and that the daycare acted appropriately. Many said they planned on keeping their kids at the daycare.
"I think its way over blown," Greg Erdmann said, who was picking up his grandson from the daycare. "I’ve had three different grand-kids go to school here and nothing but good things from them."
