DCFS investigating Chicago day care after baby left alone in the dark
CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - The Department of Children and Family Services has launched an investigation after a baby was left alone in a day care last night after it closed.
It happened at the "All Things are Possible for Kids" day care center at Chicago and Pulaski Avenue.
The DCFS investigation is just beginning, but sources say this facility has not been a problem agency and in fact, previous issues have only involved paperwork.
But on Monday night, things changed in a big way and cell phone video captured the dramatic rescue.
Getting his 1-year-old daughter, Journee, back safely was a huge relief for Cornelius Jones. But last night was a panic situation for Jones when he showed up at the daycare to pick up his daughter 15 minutes before closing and there was no one there.
“I was terrified and I was also hurt because I knew she was in there in the dark and I couldn't get to her,” Jones told FOX 32.
He called 9-1-1 and the fire department had to force open the door to get inside to a crying baby.
In the cell phone video which captured the incident, you hear an officer call "Journee," then the baby cries and you hear someone say "awe."
“I was wondering where is she, where is she. I hear her, but I couldn't see her. And one of the police officers flashed a light to the left and flashed it back to the right and that's when I saw her crawling towards us screaming and my heart just dropped,” Jones said.
A DCFS source says this daycare has not been a problem facility, but after FOX 32’s story aired, another man called to say several months ago he too had removed his son from All things are possible.
“I knocked on the door, rang the bell, called and emailed the day care, but got no responses,” Jones said.
According to Jones, workers claimed they were still in the back of the day care at the time he arrived.
The Director apologized and offered the following explanation to Journee's mother:
“And she told me that they thought Journee was a doll, but she's not that little to be a doll, so it's some excuses,” said mom Quanesha Borum.
“If anything it should be shut down, I mean nobody leaves kids behind, toddlers. I don't care how old they are that’s' dangerous,” Jones added.
For many parents, one of their biggest concerns when looking for a daycare is, is the facility safe? DCFS recommends parents visit several facilities, make appointments and take time to watch activities, check surroundings and ask questions, and then stay involved.