Child runs from Warren day care center into traffic

Staff report

WARREN

Police and Trumbull County Children Services are investigating a second instance in a week of a child being left unattended at a Warren day care.

On Monday afternoon, a woman reported to police that lack of super- vision allowed her 6-year-old autistic daughter to get away from the Cuddle, Hugs & Kisses day care, 140 Elm Road NE, and run into traffic on East Market Street a block away.

A parent was the first person to get to the child, a Warren police report says. The parent “had to chase after the child ... across the street to physically tackle her to get her back to the day care,” according to a police report.

The child’s mother said she wanted an investigation to determine whether the incident qualified as neglect and/or child endangering.

Five days earlier, on May 2, another woman reported that she arrived at Tots To Young Adults Daycare, 725 Elm Road NE, and discovered that her autistic 7-year-old son had been left behind and alone.

The boy was peeking out one of the windows while the doors were locked and lights turned off.

About 10 minutes later, staff members arrived in a large van along with a number of children and let the boy out of the building.

The boy was not injured, but his mother felt it was dangerous for him to be left alone.

When asked whether his agency was investigating the two day-care incidents, Tim Schaffner, executive director of Trumbull County Children Services, said he “could not comment on an ongoing investigation.”

According to the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, both day cares have the same statutory agent, Rosalind A. Leavy of Warren.

Cuddle, Hugs & Kisses has been registered as a for-profit corporation since 1992. Tots To Young Adults has been registered as a for-profit corporation since 2001.

A call to Cuddle, Hugs & Kisses and a request for Leavy to call back was not returned Thursday.