Laval daycare owner charged with assaulting, threatening 3 children in his care

WATCH: Parents furious over Laval daycare abuse

LAVAL — It’s something you rarely see outside a daycare: a security guard patrolling the grounds.

These days, the tension at the Chateau Bertinois Daycare is extremely high.

Educators and workers at the Laval facility said they have been receiving threats for about a week, likely from angry parents.

The owner of the daycare, 32-year-old Matthieu Mastrostefano, was arrested recently for physically assaulting and threatening three children in his care.

“The three victims were all under the age of five,” Laval Police spokesperson Sgt. Frederic Jean told Global News.

“One of the victims was assaulted while the suspect was carrying a weapon.”

Mastrostefano is expected to appear at the Laval Courthouse on Jan. 19.

He is facing four charges: two counts of assault, a count of assault while carrying a weapon, and a count of uttering threats.

Laval Police hinted that other charges may be possible.

“The investigation is ongoing,” Sgt. Jean said.

“There are other other witnesses to meet in future days.”

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The Chateau Bertinois Daycare continues to remain open for business, but Mastrostefano has been ordered by police to stay away from the facility.

This has done little to calm fears with some parents who use the daycare.

They said they have pulled their kids out in recent days and are now looking for other childcare facilities.

Zary Vanian, an educator at the Garderie Le Carrefour Educatif in Laval, said that her phone has been ringing off the hook.

“It’s been all week, from Monday to Friday, morning to 5 p.m.,” Vanian said.

“The phone calls are non-stop, at least 25 parents contacted me saying, ‘Please take my child.'”

Vanian has been able to accomodate only three of the desperate families.

“Parents have showed up here crying,” educator Vanian told Global News.

“I calmed them down by hugging them, but that’s all we can do for them for now.”

Nadia Caron, a spokesperson from Quebec’s Family Ministry, told Global News they are also investigating the case.

“We are looking at placing the daycare under trusteeship, we are following this file very closely,” Caron said.