2 day care center workers physically abused infants, say police

Two day care center workers who Southampton Town police said physically abused infants and toddlers -- including force-feeding them and slamming them down to the floor -- were arrested Saturday and charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

Kathleen Culver, 33, of Southampton, and Sarah M. Dawber, 23, of Mastic Beach, were arrested by detectives after an investigation at Side By Side Day Care Center, 502 North Sea Road, Southampton, police said.

The arrests came after an investigation by police in conjunction with the state Office of Children and Family Services and Suffolk County Child Protective Services. Detectives reported that the workers, who supervised children from 4 to 18 months old, "force fed, pushed and slammed the children down on the floor," adding that one 18-month-old child vomited from the forced feeding.

It was unclear whether the women had been arraigned on the charge and their attorneys could not be reached for comment.