Philadelphia day care owned by sex assault suspect shut down
SOUTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has shut down the South Philadelphia day care owned by a man who is accused of sexually assaulting two children who attended the facility.
Duncan Round, 53, is the owner of the Sprouts day care on the 600 block of South 9th Street. It was shut down on Thursday.
Round was released on 10 percent of $200,000 bail on Thursday morning.
But Round, a British citizen who lives in Medford Lakes, N.J., reportedly had to surrender his passport.
Police announced Wednesday that Round is being charged with seven counts of rape, sexual assault and related offenses.
The victims are one boy and one girl, both five years old. Investigators say they were assaulted multiple times inside the day care.
Police say the incidents were reported on July 25 by a third party. The children were then interviewed immediately by experts specially-trained in child abuse.
VIDEO: Police news conference on Round's arrest
Next, police executed search warrant and found what they described as physical evidence supporting the childrens' stories.
"We did recover some physical evidence on location there," said Capt. Mark Bergmann.
Round has owned the facility for about 10 years, and on Wednesday other employees were looking after children at the still-operating day care.
Long Lam has two boys who attend the preschool.
"I am have met the owner," he said. "Seems like a good guy. Just seems like a good guy."
Stephen O'Toole says his son has attended Sprouts for two and a half years. He doesn't believe the allegations.
"If something did happen to these kids, it's a shame, but it didn't happen here and he didn't do it," said O'Toole.
Neighbor Jeanelle Jamison told Action News on Thursday her neighborhood was stunned by the news.
"We were shocked to hear about it. We don't know them very well but I think in any neighborhood that would be a big shocker, especially if you have little kids," she said.
"You just kind of never know what is going in that person's life and what would make somebody do that. I can't even go there," she said. "I have no idea why anyone would do such a thing."
Police are working to figure out if there are any other victims. They are asking parents with children who attend the day care to watch for signs for withdrawal and other strange behavior.
Parents are also urged to talk to their children.
Any parents with concerns are asked to contact police.
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