DCF investigating allegations of abuse at Cape Coral day care

CAPE CORAL, Fla.- Kiddie Island Academy, located on NE Pine Island Road, is under investigation by the Florida Department of Children and Families after a mother claims her child was physically mistreated at the day care.

In an incident report completed by Cape Coral police, the mother says her daughter told her on Monday her day care teacher “hit her in the mouth.”

The child then said she began crying and when she couldn’t stop, another day care employee grabbed her “by her left ankle and dragged her to another room for time-out,” according to the report.

The child did have a small mark on the bottom lip and small pink and dark marks on her left ankle, the report said.

DCF says it has now “opened an institutional child protection investigation at the facility.”

Kiddie Island Academy co-owner/director Maria Varela says the allegations are “completely false” and she trusts the proper agencies to take care of it.

The facility, which opened in June 2015, has not had any prior licensing violations or institutional investigations, DCF said.