Clarification: A previous version of this article implied that the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, & Families was commenting on this case in particular in regard to license suspensions. This is incorrect; the WSDYF commented on license suspensions in general. This article has been updated.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and Washington State’s Child Protective Services are investigating the sexual assault of an Enumclaw baby.

According to interviews and reports, staff at the Kids Space Learning and Daycare in Spanaway called the parents of the 10-month-old to report an injury on Aug. 2; the family then took the child to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, where it was determined the child was sexually assaulted.

The baby’s family has alleged the assault occurred at the daycare, while owner Tracy Barnes has said it must have happened elsewhere.

No suspects have been named and no arrests have been made.

Barnes’ license was suspended Aug. 7.

In general, license suspensions are more than likely a “part of an open complaint investigation and a suspension is an enforcement action DCYF takes to temporarily stop a license to protect the health, safety, or welfare of enrolled children or the public,” said Nancy Gutierrez, communications administrator with the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, & Families, though she added this is not a sign of wrong-doing.

Barnes was the only person to be interviewed by the Courier-Herald; Brian Stoner, the baby’s grandfather, gave an interview to King 5 but said his family no longer wants to be interviewed, citing online harassment.

Stoner did say, however, that “hopefully the daycare will remain closed.”

To the King 5 news station, Stoner said he asked Barnes about security cameras at the daycare. Barnes told the Courier-Herald that she had security cameras given to her by the building’s previous owner, but she did not know how to install them.

It is not mandatory for daycare facilities to have security cameras or other electronic surveillance devices, though daycare centers have to provide parents with release forms if any pictures or videos are to be taken of the children.

Barnes has been running a daycare for around six years; at first, she watched relatives’ children at her home during the pandemic, and then she got an official license when she expanded to watch more children.

She was licensed to begin operating at the new location on May 29.

“This isn’t something I put together just for the heck of it,” she said. “I have put everything in me into this daycare for it to be a place and safety and love for my children, just like my home was.”

Barnes said that her staff from her home transferred to the new location, and all went through proper background checks. She noted that all her staff are women, especially because she alleged Pierce County deputies asked specifically about male employees.

Barnes made it clear that she is not alleging the baby’s family had anything to do with the sexual assault; however, she said it is unfortunate that her facility was identified in the news, since no one has been arrested.

“This is really crazy, to have to be now proven that I’m not a monster, and I’m not associated with monsters,” she said through tears.