Alexandria Day Care Workers Charged in Arlington

Two Alexandria day care owners were charged this week in Arlington after police say they found children unrestrained in a vehicle.

The incident occurred at 9 a.m. Thursday in the 2600 block of Shirlington Road, according to information the Arlington County Police Department released Friday. Police pulled over the vehicle, which was occupied by two adults and seven young children.

All of the children were between the ages of 5 months and 3 years, and none of them were buckled in with any type of safety restraints, according to police. One child was unsecured and sitting in the lap of the adult in the front passenger seat.

Two of the children were seated in the rear cargo area of the vehicle, which had no seats and no restraints. When police questioned the two women, they learned the pair owned a day care center in Alexandria.

None of the children were physically hurt, and all were returned to their parents. Police charged Betty Ross, 34, and Cassandra Lewis, 37, both of Alexandria, with seven counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Both were released on summons.

Police did not say which day care facility the women owned.