ENUMCLAW, Wash. — A family claims their baby was sent home from a Spanaway daycare with serious injuries and now a law enforcement investigation is underway.
In Enumclaw, with his girlfriend by his side, Brian Stoner said his family is struggling to understand what happened to his 10-month-old granddaughter.
"A week ago today, we received a call from the daycare,” said Stoner.
The call was about an injury. It came from Kids Space Learning and Daycare in Spanaway where Tracy Barnes is the owner.
"There were some major concerns for me to the point where I told the mom she needed to pick her up and take her to the doctor right now,” said Barnes.
"They got her to Mary Bridge, and then at that point, we were told that that she had been sexually assaulted,” Stoner said. "The first call was to the daycare to see if they had cameras. They did not."
Barnes, who recently opened the new space in Spanaway, said the cameras had just arrived and weren't installed yet.
Investigators were called to the hospital.
"We knew it wasn't something that happened at home. But you know, not everyone knows that,” Stoner said. Stoners said the authorities made the decision to take the baby out of her home, and temporarily place the child with him.
"It took them less than six hours to make that decision, to take a child from their mother, and then it took six days to shut down the daycare where it happened, and that's just unacceptable,” said Stoner.
A director of the daycare said that process is protocol.
"It has nothing to do with whether they believe any wrongdoing happened. It is just protocol when an allegation is made,” said Tiffani Wilson, the daycare's assistant director.
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families said the daycare’s license is suspended for now while an investigation is underway.
The daycare's owner said she has a well-vetted staff and has been running a daycare for more than six years without issues.
"I believe the allegations are unfounded, and I believe my daycare will be open soon,” said Barnes.
As for the baby, Stoner said investigators allowed her to go back with her mother this week and that she was back home in a heartbeat.
Now, his family is just anxious for answers.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department was contacted about this and they have launched an investigation.