BEND, OR -- A Bend day care owner faces child abuse charges after a 3-month old girl suffered what police are calling suspicious head injuries. Investigators say the baby attended the day care on Northeast Saranac Place, owned and operated by Nicole Johansen. Aimee Craig with the state’s early learning division, says Johansen has been licensed since 2009, and has had two complaints filed against her. "There was a valid complaint in 2009 for having too many infants in the facility. So, two are allowed, and there were three present. There was an additional 'unable to substantiate' complaint; that was 2014. What I can say is that the unable to substantiate was on an allegation around spanking children in care."
As a licensed facility, Crais says Johansen's day care would've been subject to inspections. "So, when you first apply to be a provider, there’s an initial health and safety review of your facility, of your home, in this case. Then, under the rules that this provider would’ve been under, there’s one announced visit within the two-year licensing period. If there are any complaints, a licensing specialist would follow up on those complaints." After that second allegation in June, Craig says a licensing specialist visited the home, however nothing was found at that time. Beginning today, licensed day cares will now receive one un-announced visit every two years.
Johansen’s license has been suspended, pending a full investigation on last week’s incident. She has been charged with two counts of first-degree assault and one count of first-degree criminal mistreatment. The baby is being treated at St. Charles Bend for her injuries.
