Police said two employees at the Small World Learning Center in Blaine were involved in the “violent abuse of children.”
BLAINE, Minn. — Christina and Cody Peck describe their 5-month-old son, Kassian, as a “happy boy” who loves to laugh and play with toys.
“It’s been so amazing watching him grow,” Christina said, “watching him develop into this little person.”
But when Kassian started attending childcare at Small World Learning Center in Blaine this spring, his parents became very concerned about his health there.
“He was admitted to the hospital on May 13th and returned home with bruising by May 23rd,” Christina Peck said. “None of our concerns seemed to be taken seriously.”
The Peck family identified Kassian as one of three young children victimized in a child abuse case currently under investigation by Blaine police. Police announced in a news release this weekend that Small World Learning Center employees Elizabeth Wimmerslage and Chloe Johnson were arrested for “aggressively abusing a child” following a tip from Children’s Minnesota last Tuesday.
According to the complaint, surveillance footage shows Wemerslage and Johnson “violently” flipping, pulling and hitting the babies. In one video, investigators wrote, Johnson “covers the infants’ mouths and noses with a cloth for several seconds” while the infants are crying. Blaine police, citing medical reports, said one of the infants suffered “nine persistent bruises.”
Christian Peck said his son had multiple bruises on his body and a broken bone in his leg.
“It’s disgusting that people would do this to kids. Their innocence, it’s just… it seems sickening and twisted to me,” Christina said.
“We just want to know why it’s lasting this long,” Cody Peck added.
It’s unclear whether Wiemerslage and Johnson have hired attorneys. Initially, they told investigators that one of the child’s bruises may have been caused by a chair or swing in the classroom, and Johnson at one point told police he was “teaching the toddler how to roll over.”
“But ultimately,” the lawsuit reads, “[Johnson] Wiemerslage acknowledged that he “was too rough” and that his actions may have caused bruising to one of the children. Investigators also wrote that Wiemerslage “admitted to his actions” and that “it was wrong.”
“As a company, we do not condone the actions of the two individuals involved in this incident,” Small World Learning Center management said in a statement.
“The two teachers in question have been terminated effective immediately and indefinitely. We will remain open to continue supporting the families who rely on us for care and stability during this difficult time. We want to let everyone know that in the 24 years that the Small World Learning Center organization has been in business, this is the first time we have seen anything like this,” management said in a statement. “Our team is made up of dedicated teachers who love their jobs and are committed to the safety and well-being of the children in their care. We are working with the Blaine Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security to identify weaknesses in our policies and procedures to ensure this never happens again.”
Blaine Police Chief Brian Podany said Small World management is cooperating fully with the investigation, but while the criminal charges focus on the three infants, more families have come forward since the arrests were announced, Podany said.
“When we started reviewing the video, we certainly quickly saw that there was a problem,” Podany said. “What’s particularly disturbing about this case is that there were two individuals present at this incident.”
On Monday, family members told KARE 11 they met with Small World management at the Blaine facility to discuss the allegations.
Minnesota Rep. Nolan West, who represents the area, also attended the meeting. West said his own son previously attended Small World Learning Center in Blaine, and that before his family moved to the new daycare, he too would come home with bruises.
“The fact that this was happening on a daily basis is insane,” West said. “No one could ever imagine that. It’s horrible.”
Christina and Cody Peck said their son has regained his old “smile” despite all the trauma he’s been through.
Still, Christina said she hopes justice will be served for the two employees.
“I want them to be punished for what they did to my son and all the other children who were in their care,” Peck said.
