Day Care Providers Arrested

Two women who were supposed to be taking care of infants while their parents worked instead were force-feeding, pushing, and slamming the children down onto the floor, according to Southampton Town police.

After a lengthy investigation, police charged a pair of workers at Side by Side Child Care on North Sea Road in Southampton, a state-licensed facility with an infant, toddler, and preschool program, with child endangerment. Detective Sgt. Lisa Costa said the department received allegations of abuse in the infant room, where children range from 4 to 18 months, from other personnel at the center. Families from both Southampton and East Hampton Towns use the long-established day care center, the detective said.

Along with officials from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and Suffolk County Child Protective Services, detectives spent five hours at the center on Saturday. They arrested Kathleen Culver, 33, of Southampton, who has worked at the center for 12 years, and Sarah M. Dawber, 23, of Mastic Beach.

“On several occasions they force-fed, pushed, and slammed the children on the floor,” Detective Costa said in a press release. “Besides one 18-month-old child vomiting from the forced feeding, no other injuries have been reported.”

The women, employed as teachers, were charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. The Office of Children & Family Services, which oversees day care centers, is continuing the investigation.

Police did not name the young victims. A man who answered the phone yesterday at Side by Side said the facility had been advised not to comment on the allegations.

“We are confident that we took the threat out at this time,” Detective Costa said. Police have asked parents and guardians of children who have attended the day care center to call 702-2230 with any information that may help in the investigation, which is continuing.