Woman attacked at Tacoma daycare
TACOMA, Wash. -- Police here are looking for a man who attacked an employee at a daycare early Monday.
Tacoma police spokeswoman Loretta Cool said the victim was opening the Tender Heart Learning Center about 6:40 a.m. when a man who was waiting outside asked to enroll a child.
Cool said the woman felt nervous and texted her mother and husband saying that her instincts told her the man was "creepy."
When the woman let the man inside, he attacked her, Cool said.
She was badly beaten, suffering a concussion and possible a broken jaw.
Another employee arrived to find the victim in a pool of blood and the attacker ran off. The woman was rushed to a hospital and Cool said the her injuries were not life-threatening.
The attacker remains at large. He was described as a black man, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a very narrow face and a short afro. Officials said the victim does not know who he is.
Police cordoned off the daycare in the 8200 block of Pacific Avenue while they collected evidence at the scene.
Tacoma police spokeswoman Loretta Cool said the victim was opening the Tender Heart Learning Center about 6:40 a.m. when a man who was waiting outside asked to enroll a child.
Cool said the woman felt nervous and texted her mother and husband saying that her instincts told her the man was "creepy."
When the woman let the man inside, he attacked her, Cool said.
She was badly beaten, suffering a concussion and possible a broken jaw.
Another employee arrived to find the victim in a pool of blood and the attacker ran off. The woman was rushed to a hospital and Cool said the her injuries were not life-threatening.
The attacker remains at large. He was described as a black man, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a very narrow face and a short afro. Officials said the victim does not know who he is.
Police cordoned off the daycare in the 8200 block of Pacific Avenue while they collected evidence at the scene.
Where I used to worked in Lakewood and often opened alone, reading people's comments it is obvious that many have no clue how a small business like Tender Heart operates. I would suggest for the company to invest in a silent alarm my previous employer had alert buttons that we could carry and if hit would take moments for the police to arrive. I'm sure the woman thought that morning traffic was just moments away so although as mentioned in the report felt uncomfortable thought there wasn't any money so why would someone attack her in broad daylight. As I live 4 blocks from the location I was shocked that something so horrific happened so close to home. I have been concerned with a rash of criminal activity along Pacific and would like to know what the police department plans on doing to ensure the safety of the people who live and work in this neighborhood. It seems that as Tacoma has improved downtown it has just pushed the prostitutes, criminals, and drug addicts up the hill. Although I am surrounded by good neighbors that look out for each other and won't hesitate to chase off a car parked on the street blatant in a criminal act, the lack of official concern for their citizens is unsettling. I believe that we should demand better.
She should not have let the man in. Very poor judgement on her part. She should be let go. The daycare should have a policy in place for these situations.  I would not allow my child to go back to an incompentent childcare center such as this.  Child services should investigate this center. My child's daycare has not only electronic entry (each parent has a code) but there is sign at the door instructing anyone who wants to enroll a child to contact the director as staff cannot enroll.  No one is allowed entry without appt or keycode.
@realist22Â Alright see when it comes to enrolling children that woman loves to do so she gets so excited to have new children in that center. And this center in my opinion is one of the best in Tacoma. See thats the thing you dont know all the information. You dont know her or the owner or anything to do with this center. They are wonderful people.Â
Pepper Spray???? Bang-Bang would be the appropriate way to handle this.. Hope she recovers quickly.
Women don't carry pepper spray anymore?
lots of parents drop their kids off early in the morning. They're lucky he wasn't into hurting children.
@chandler pretty sure if this man was doing this to that woman and a parent showed up that parent would have beating the living day lights out of him those parents love the staff and more then half of them are military and wouldnt put up with thatÂ
My best wishes toward a fast and speedy recovery for her. A quick side not, isn't this the same general area where another white person was badly beaten a little over a month ago? It seems like there is a not an end in site to the hatred African Americans in the Puget Sound area have for whites. Multiculturalism is a fraud and designed to genocide every real race in existence, especially white people.
Her text before opening the door does not seem to have helped at all.
@Willow she sent the text but her husband and mom would have needed to get into the care and get to her
Sometimes you have to trust your instincts, and be" rude". Shut the door or tell them to come back later. She should not have been there opening up alone in the first place.
I hope she wasn't one of those people not wanting to seem racist so they'll act overly nice to a black person.
@HumanMonkeyRule shes not racist at all.Â
See the door on that place? I'm guessing it's there for a reason.
Oh man, that's been there ever since the 90s. That area has really gone to hell with the low income rentals and the increasing multiculturalism and minority population.
WOW KOMO with a description. How brave of you! Still a weird crime Iâm thinking mental illness. It is no excuse who but a crazy person attacks just to attack?
"The attacker remains at large. He was described as a black man, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a very narrow face and a short afro. Officials said the victim does not know who he is."
Yeah I was also surprised by the vivid description, usually they leave the most important details out to make it seem like certain races aren't criminally prone. But you want to know who else but a crazy person attacks? A person full of hate, probably some racist black panther who always gets rejected by white women. That's just my guess.
Lots of druggies, homeless people, working girls and pimps and low income rentals all right there, Tacoma Police won't do anything about it though. As a matter of fact, as a business owner right down the street from there, the police won't even return my phone calls and don't want anything to do with what is going on.
Has that area (Pacific Ave) gotten more diverse over the years? It sure seems to me that there is an uptick in crime in direct correlation with an increase in minority populations.
I am so confused. Why did he wait outside for her? What kind of weirdo (maybe that explains it) stands around for someone to open up a store or in this case daycare just so he can beat them nearly to death???
I know where that is... there are some sketchy transients around that part of town.
I'm going to guess that his child will NOT be accepted as a student.
@KOMO_Sapiens wow really i dont think its time to be a smart ass. how bout having concern for that woman
This wasn't the daycare employees fault. Why would you take your child out of the center just because someone attacked a TEACHER there.   No one said the children where hurt.   What they need to do is make enrollment by appointment only that why there can be two staff there. There isn't much to steal at a daycare... what are you going to do... steal applesauce!? Normal daycares don't carry a lot of money. Especially on Mondays!!
@LiquidTsunami She should not have let the man in. Very poor judgement on her part. She should be let go. The daycare should have a policy in place for these situations. I would not allow my child to go back to an incompentent childcare center such as this. Child services should investigate this center. My child's daycare has not only electronic entry (each parent has a code) but there is sign at the door instructing anyone who wants to enroll a child to contact the director as staff cannot enroll. No one is allowed entry without appt or keycode.
@LiquidTsunamiÂ
They haven't confirmed if she knew or didn't know him - I think it's safe to say more info in coming... *** Well, 11am news just started - she DOES NOT know the attacker***
Also, I am a lifelong Tacoman, but this honestly isn't the best area either...no disrespect meant. just sayin'...
Thank God another employee should up - he may have been intending to rape or kidnap her. Seems strange to just "beat" her for the sake of beating her...not much to steal at a daycare??!!
ALWAYS - trust your instincts - I'd rather accidentally "offend" someone then the latter... I'm 5'3", 120lbs. - It's no disrespect to them - it's about protecting MYSELF.
See Something - SAY SOMETHING!!!! I also know Mace/Pepper Spray has limitations in Wa, but GET SOME!! My hubby ordered it online and there is one in the car, house and my purse. We've even practiced with one...
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@Smiley Yeah, dont let your daughter return there because this will never happen anywhere else. Â
She won't be attending daycare period. Thanks lol
@Smiley More accidents happen in the home than anywhere else.  Just sayin...
Poor woman. Â That must have been terrifying. Â A painful reminder to us all. If something feels wrong, if you feel unsafe about a situation, your natural intuition is probably right. Â We need to stop worrying about making someone feel bad, or looking stupid, and stay safe. Â There is an amazing book "the Gift of Fear" in which the author (a former cop, I think,) Â talks about how too often women go against their instincts because we're raised to be helpful and polite, and don't want to hurt someone's feelings. Â His book is required reading, and he has versions suitable for teens, too. Â It's not about being paranoid, it's about not drowning out your natural instincts.Â
@DT I have read the same book and think all women should read it. I would rather be thought rude than become a victim.
Drove by this morning on the way to work and saw the commotion. Wondered what was going on. Hope this lady recovers and they find out who this wacko is.
@dg54321Â I also drove by on my way to work this morning, and saw 4 cop cars (including one with his lights going blocking the side road nearby) but no officers. They had the crime tape up, too. While I'm glad no children were there, I am so deeply sorry to hear an employee was harmed so badly. This is a bad neighborhood, like people have said, but things like this can happen anywhere. I will keep her in my thoughts for a speedy recovery, and I hope they catch this creep soon. I won't be hanging out in my yard until they do.