Two Blaine day care employees charged with child abuse
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Two employees at a Blaine day care center have been charged with child abuse for allegedly harming three infants.
The Blaine Police Department says it began an investigation of Small World Learning Center in Blaine last week after it received a report of possible abuse from Minneapolis Children’s Hospital. The hospital told police that it had treated a 5-month-old for unexplained bruising after the infant had been at the day care.
Police detectives conducted interviews and reviewed security camera footage at the day care. Police say footage shows two caretakers aggressively rolling the infant on a floor mat. Footage allegedly shows the same employees mishandling two other infants.
The Anoka County Attorney’s Office charged employees Chloe Kaye Johnson of Blaine and Elizabeth Augusta Wiemerslage of Coon Rapids with multiple charges of malicious punishment of a child and assault.
Police say day care employees initially suggested that the infants’ chairs and swings might have caused bruising, but after further questioning, both women charged admitted to handling the infants too roughly.
Small World Learning Center did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Police say the day care center is cooperating with the investigation, and that families have been notified. The two women were arrested and have been released on bail.
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