Police accuse daycare co-owner Erin Pallo of not reporting child abuse that is alleged to have happened at the hands of one of her staff members.
SCRANTON, Pa. — Erin Pallo of Clarks Summit walked into Central Court on Wednesday, accused of not reporting alleged child abuse that occurred at a daycare she co-owns in West Scranton.
Court paperwork states an investigation by Scranton police in September uncovered that Pallo and fellow co-owner of Learn and Grow Early Childhood Daycare Center, Amy Ware, lied to police about alleged abuse at the hands of a staff member.
Investigators say Pallo and Ware watched security video that shows a staff member spanking and hitting a one-year-old on the head with a bottle, pulling his hair, and throwing him to the ground.
After interviewing several current and former employees, police also allege that Pallo and Ware deterred staff from coming forward and that the daycare was constantly overcrowded.
Last Friday, the state’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning shut down the daycare, forcing more than 100 families to find a new place to take their children.
Pallo was released on a $50,000 bail. When asked about her charges, she had no comment.
Newswatch 16 spoke with Lackawanna County Deputy District Attorney Bo Loughney earlier this week about the case.
He says this kind of crime will not be tolerated.
“This is our job to protect. I mean, these kids are from anywhere from 12 weeks to 4 years old. They are literally the most precious aspect of our society. They are defenseless. They’re helpless, and you know we have to hold people accountable that are actively either condoning abuse, covering up abuse, or allowing it to happen,” said Loughney.