The state has issued an emergency closure order for the Cobb County day care center where a toddler was allegedly left inside a hot van for hours.
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning issued the order Wednesday to close Bright Achievers Pre-K Center in Austell, citing “serious rule violations in the areas of transportation and supervision.” The decision, which the center can appeal within 48 hours, comes on the heels of owner Melinda Hamilton’s arrest last week.
Hamilton was charged with making false statements, tampering with evidence and reckless conduct in connection with a May 5 incident in which 2-year-old student Zaryaha Emile was reportedly left inside one of the day care’s vans for at least five hours.
Zaryaha was sluggish and dehydrated but otherwise unharmed, police said.
Hamilton allegedly attempted to cover up the day care’s error.
“The driver described the child as ‘sweaty’ and the child’s clothing as ‘moist’ from having been in the vehicle for several hours,” the warrant for Hamilton’s arrest said. “The accused did not call 911, did not transport the child to a hospital or doctor, and told the driver not to tell anyone else that the child had been left in the vehicle.”
Zaryaha’s mother, Quantina Russell, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday that a staff member told her that her daughter was left in the van for just 15 minutes. Hamilton also tried to bribe her with $1,000 and a job offer, Russell said.
Russell, whose two older children also went to Bright Achievers, said she felt like she’d had a good relationship with Hamilton, who was was released from the Cobb County jail on Saturday after posting $25,000 bond.
“I even recommended other parents take their kids there,” Russell said.
—Staff writer Alexis Stevens contributed to this report.
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