Lodi Daycare Shut Down After Investigation Reveals Violations

LODI (CBS13) – A daycare run out of a Lodi home has been shut down after a social services investigation revealed a number of disturbing violations.

The license for the daycare run by Dorothy Bernhoft has been suspended following a surprise inspection at her home. Investigators listed a number of incidents of alleged mistreatment, including:

• "infants without supervision buckled in car seats in darkened closets with the door shut"
• "one child was in a toilet commode with the door shut"
• "four other infants were buckled in car seats that were in a dark bedroom with the doors closed"
• "… radios were playing, making it difficult to hear infants"

Bernhoft has handed over her license to authorities. Police have not filed any criminal charges in the case and did not comment Thursday on the matter.

Jack Chandler has lived next to Bernhoft for more than 10 years . He told CBS13 he knew she was operating a day care but would have never guessed what state officials allege

"She is the nicest, kindest lady I ever saw," he said. "I'm really shocked. I couldn't even guess that. I mean you don't usually get too shocked you know with things these days, but that's completely shocking to me."