LANSING, Mich. -- The license of Southfield-based child care facility has been suspended and the state plans to revoke that license permanently following an investigation that revealed a caregiver in the facility twice stuck a thumbtack between their fingers and grabbed children at the day care.

The suspension applies to the ABC Early Learning Center, located at 29829 Telegraph Road in Southfield, and whose license is issued to the Brown Investment Group.

A state investigation alleges on Nov. 15, 2018 an employee at the facility hid a thumbtack between her fingers and grabbed the arm of a child, sticking the tack into the child’s arm. Five days later, the same employee called a child over for a hug and while a tack was between her fingers, she pressed it into the child’s shoulder, causing the child to yell “ouch” and pull away.

The second incident was caught on camera by another employee, who reported it to the child care program director. The incidents were not reported to the state, however. On Nov. 30, an investigator visited the facility and questioned the director, who initially denied knowledge of the incident. But when the investigator returned the following week and presented the video evidence of the assault, the director admitted knowledge of the incident, state officials said.

The director said she had not seen the video until then. However, it is alleged the employee who filmed the second incident showed the program director the video before turning it over to the state.

The child care facility’s license was suspended on Mar. 6 and does not allow for the facility to take care of any children going forward. LARA determined the suspension was necessary because the licensee lied about their knowledge of the incident and failed to report it to Child Protective Services.

An appeal can be filed within seven days of the license being suspended, but no care can be provided until a resolution of the appeal is determined.