Crime & Safety

Childcare Center Under Investigation for Neglect

Police: Boy, 3, left in van — for second time in less than a month.

Tampa Police are investigating a report of a 3-year-old boy being left in a childcare center’s van for “several hours” on Thursday morning, spokeswoman Janelle McGregor said.

The boy was spotted inside the van at 12:20 p.m. by a county childcare licensing inspector who was visiting , 6501 N. Central Ave., McGregor said.

“Tampa Fire Rescue responded to the scene to evaluate the child and he was then put into the care of his parents [who came to the center],” she said.

Find out what's happening in Seminole Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The child, whose name was not released by police, was not crying when he was found and did not appear upset in any way, but the incident alarmed the inspector enough to contact authorities, McGregor said.  No arrests have been made.

The mother identified herself to Bay News 9 as Aundria Young and the child as Jusean.

Find out what's happening in Seminole Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This was the second time the boy was left in the van alone in less than a month. On Feb. 9, the same child was found inside the van at 10:16 a.m. by someone who reported it to Hillsborough County’s Child Protective Services, McGregor said.

Sheriff’s Major Robert Bulera, who commands the county’s team that investigates allegations of child neglect and abuse, would not comment on any allegations involving the center nor confirm that there was an active investigation.

The Feb. 9 incident resulted in the driver being fired, said J.M. Taylor, who identified himself as the father of the center’s director, Sonja Anderson.

This morning, Anderson drove the pickup route herself, he said. He suspected the child had been asleep in a rear seat upon the van’s arrival at the center and was overlooked when the children were unloaded.

“She rushed inside because she knew she was two teachers short today and she was worried about the kids inside,” Taylor said.

He described her as hardworking and dedicated to the center and its children.

Another parent also spoke highly of Anderson, who she called Miss Sonja, and the center’s staff. Carol Walton brings her 3-year-old daughter to the center every morning.

“It would be a concern if I didn’t know her — but I do know her,” Walton said. “This was not intentional. This was an honest mistake. That’s not her character. That’s not her personality.”

Walton credited Anderson with helping her disabled daughter recently learn to walk and talk. Her child suffers from seizures that were caused when a staff member at another daycare center shook her, Walton said.

“My daughter will be here every morning unless I come here and I see a sign saying it’s closed forever,” Walton said. “Otherwise, she’ll be here every day.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Seminole Heights