Between 35 and 40 children, mostly infants to kindergartners, were in the day care when the warrant was served. Other children from nearby elementary schools were also scheduled to be picked up and taken to the day care after school.

Kennard said all the children's parents were contacted as well as the schools, which were told to keep the children instead of sending them to the day care.

There was no evidence that any of the children was ever harmed, he said. One mother was anxious to find out what was going on when she arrived at the day care and saw numerous sheriff's vehicles parked in front.

"I'm freaking out," she said. "Seeing teachers come out in handcuffs is pretty creepy. It blows me away." Another woman who said she was a friend of the owner and had children in the day care said she hoped it was just a misunderstanding. She claimed a woman who was fired from the day care made allegations of drug use by the owner as well as mental and possible physical abuse.

"If they found something, I'd be surprised," she said. "I'm hoping everything is OK."

But Shelley Powell said she pulled her young daughter out of the day care weeks ago after observing the actions of some of the employees.

"I just had a bad gut feeling," she said.

The day care was not officially closed down Friday. But Kennard said after word of the allegations got out, he's be surprised if any parents returned Monday.

The Utah Department of Health delivered a notice of license revocation to Small Wonder on Jan. 27. The day-care provider has 30 days to appeal the revocation. Because of their rights under the appeal, child care licensing specialist Sheila Oelerich would not characterize the nature of the alleged violations.

"Revocation would be because of serious, perhaps multiple deficiencies, not correcting those deficiencies, maybe serious harm to the children," she said.

The Small Wonder Development Center was initially licensed in July of 2005.

Meier was cited in May 2005 when she was a home day-care provider. Licensing records state she had employed two people who were arrested on felonies.

"The facility was cited for one individual being arrested and convicted of a felony and another person working at the facility being arrested on felony charges," said Utah Department of Health child care licensing specialist Brynn Steimle.

Steimle said Meier's home day care did not notify officials about criminal arrests and convictions as required on forms. "It asks questions about criminal history and they did not admit those had happened," Steimle said. "It was shortly after that time that she chose to close that home provider and open the center."

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Contributing: Wendy Leonard

E-mail: preavy@desnews.com