Feb. 25--FORT LAUDERDALE -- Worship services were canceled and scores of parents were left scrambling to find work-week caretakers for their children Sunday after an early morning fire that is being investigated as arson.
Police also are looking into a possible hate crime at the Little Leapers Day Care and Performing Arts Academy because of swastikas that were spray-painted on the front of the building at 1300 Riverland Road.
"When I got here this morning, I just began to cry," said Sandra Wilson, who owns the day care with her husband, Ivory Wilson. "Who could hate so much to do something like this?"
Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue crews responded to a call at 3:15 a.m., according to spokesman Matt Little.
The fire apparently started in the kitchen of the building that on Sundays is also used as the sanctuary of the Bethel Worship Center. said Wilson.
Police investigators found signs of forced entry, according to police Lt. Frank Sousa. He added that investigators "would look at everything that is there," including the possibility that the break-in and fire were hate crimes.
Wilson said that keyboards, drums, speakers, mixing boards, microphones and other pieces of musical equipment were missing. She estimated the loss at $50,000 or more.
About three weeks ago, the school received a telephone threat from a caller who used a racial epithet and warned the four-year-old day care "to get out of the neighborhood," Wilson said.
The threat triggered a call to police, and the school was on lockdown for the day. "It was frightening," said employee Joyce Bryant, who took the call.
The school is attended by about 30 children ages 6 weeks to 6 years during much of the day. About a dozen elementary pupils come for after-school day care, said Wilson. She said the school is racially mixed, with a white majority.
The fire caused moderate damage to the building, but there were no injuries, Little said.
With extensive smoke damage and without electricity, Wilson said Sunday morning worship services were canceled. She was also calling parents to report that the school would be closed until further notice.
"This is devastating," said Wilson. "The parents are sad, hurt and they are worried about their jobs. They depend on this school being open so they can go to work. The whole thing is shocking."
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