CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Charlotte day care director has been charged with child abuse after part of the school was shut down by the state over health and safety concerns.
According to Mecklenburg County arrest warrants, Leslye Denise Torrence was taken into custody on Friday, March 8, and charged with six counts of misdemeanor child abuse.
Warrants state that Torrence is the director at Midwood Learning Academy Daycare, located in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood of Charlotte.
Torrence is accused of “transporting the victim(s) in a vehicle without a car seat or seatbelt and the rear driver’s side door left open while the vehicle was in motion,” according to the arrest warrant. CMPD’s police report states that six children, all 3 to 4 years old, were observed in a vehicle unattended at a public park/playground in the 2100 block of N. Davidson Street.
The police report goes on to say, “The caller said the subjects (children) were in the care of day care workers and did not have proper car seats. The subjects also drove away in a reckless manner with children unsecured in the vehicle.”
In late February, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services informed Midwood Learning Academy that it had to close at the end of the day on Monday, Feb. 26. The department sent the business, 2519 Central Ave., the following message:
“On February 23, 2024, the Division of Child Development and Early Education received information related to the health and safety of children at Midwood Learning Academy. Based on information received, the Division has determined that emergency action is required to protect the health, safety, and welfare of children.”
According to NCDHHS, Midwood Learning Academy has two separate licenses and two separate street addresses. One of them is right next to the other.
The location at 2519 was ordered to shut down after the Division of Child Development and Early Education received a complaint concerning the health and safety of the children there.
The action was taken immediately. Midwood Learning Academy’s website says the account has expired. The day care’s inspection history shows in May 2023 they had one violation, which was corrected during the visit. Further back in January of 2023, it’s noted staff didn’t complete first aid or CPR training, and only one staff member did for six children less than one-year-old.
The Charlotte day care has seemingly deleted its website and all social media pages.
Mecklenburg County jail records show Torrence’s bond was set at $60,000.