By Mary O’KEEFE

Glendale police responded early Wednesday morning to a residential day care in the 3200 block of Orange Avenue after receiving a report of child endangerment.

The parents had picked up their child from the north Glendale in-home day care late afternoon on Tuesday when they became concerned about their baby’s condition. They took the child to the hospital.

“The parents of a 2-year-old noticed the child appeared lethargic,” said Sgt. Tom Lorenz. “The baby was tested and found to have THC in [the child’s] system.”

THC is tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical found in marijuana. The police were contacted.

GPD obtained a search warrant and went to the day care home early Wednesday morning. They waited for the owner, Roubena Hartounian, to arrive at the location about 6:30 a.m.

“[When] officers entered the location, they found no electricity and the toilets were inoperable,” Lorenz said. They also allegedly found unsafe and unsanitary conditions in the home.

“They did [allegedly] find drug paraphernalia at the location,” he added.

Hartounian was arrested for child endangerment.

“The department is investigating the [residential day care],” said Michael Weston, spokesman for the California Dept. of Social Services.

The business has been licensed with the state since April 2005 and has a capacity of eight children.

The CDSS is working with GPD in the investigation.

Weston did not comment on the Glendale investigation specifically but said if a facility is found to be in violation of their childcare licensing regulations a citation will be issued or, depending on the violation, the business can lose its license.

“We do have the power to shut them down,” Weston said. “Parents with any concerns about the child care [facility] can contact our agency.”

California Dept. of Social Services can be reached by phone at (323) 981-3350, via the web at www.cdss.ca.gov or contact GPD at (818) 548-4840.

  Mary Okeefe