Cops found 26 children behind a false wall in a daycare basement, owner not arrested
COLORADO SPRINGS, Co. (ABC7) — Police say they found 26 children under the supervision of two adults after discovering a false wall at a Colorado Springs daycare.
All of the children were reportedly under the age of three, and the owner, identified as 58-year-old Carla Faith, was not arrested.
Police were conducting a welfare check at Play Mountain Place after receiving complaints that the facility was housing more children in their care than their license allowed.
Faith reportedly refused to cooperate with officers when they arrived. However, police say they heard noises of children coming from her home, which is located on the same property as the daycare facility.
When officers arrived, no kids were located. During their investigation, however, authorities found a false wall that led to the home’s basement. When officers walked down the stairs, they located two adults and 26 kids inside a finished basement.
Officers immediately began working with DHS to release the children back to their parents.
Three adult workers at the daycare were arrested for misdemeanor child abuse relating to neglect; however, those charges were canceled by detectives pending further investigation. Faith was not arrested on scene, as detectives pursue appropriate charges.
The Department of Colorado Health Services released a statement that said in part:
The Colorado Department of Human Services Childcare Licensing received a complaint on a licensed childcare home on November 13th, 2019 and investigated the same day. The Colorado Springs Police Department was contacted to conduct a welfare check of the children in care. Based on initial findings, the Department is immediately suspending the license. This is an ongoing investigation.
DHS is currently investigating other licensed facilities belonging to Carla Faith in Colorado Springs. The CSPD will assist, if requested by DHS, to investigate criminal statutes relating to their cases.
