FOUNTAIN INN, S.C. – Two day care employees have been charged with cruelty to children after investigators said they put homemade ice packs in the kids’ clothes.
Joy Lashway and Kimberly McCall were both charged with two counts of cruelty to children, police told WYFF.
Warrants obtained by WSPA indicate that both Lashway and McCall worked at Excel Academy, and are each accused of putting ice packs into children’s clothing in August.
The father of a child who attends the day care told WYFF that the ice packs were placed inside the children’s pants to keep them awake so all the kids would sleep at the same time, and not nap during playtime.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Excel Academy said: “As childcare providers, we are tasked with the safety, care and teaching of your most precious possessions. It is unfortunate that people, sometimes, make poor and dangerous decisions. Excel Academy isn’t immune to these baffling actions of staff. We do, however, face these issues and deal with them.” The post also references a former employee who “has been spreading inaccurate information, and flat-out lies to parents and staff members in an attempt to discredit our business.”
Records from the South Carolina Department of Social Services obtained by WSPA indicate the agency received a complaint about the day care on Aug. 30 regarding “discipline and behavior management.”
In a statement to WYFF, the South Carolina Department of Social Services said, “The agency is aware of the allegations and working alongside law enforcement in the investigation. We cannot provide any additional information due to the ongoing investigation.”
