State authorities this week shut down a Lawrence day care accused of using “frightening and physically harmful” punishment on a child in its care.

An emergency order of suspension against Love-N-Home Care, 1801 Random Road, was issued Monday after the Kansas Department of Health and Environment received a report that a child had received a bloody nose and facial scratches during a “prohibited punishment.”

Sharon Watson, an agency spokeswoman, said the child’s head had been pushed down onto a plate, resulting in the injuries. She declined to reveal more details about the child, citing confidentiality.

KDHE determined a license suspension “is necessary to protect children (at the center) from physical abuse or a substantial threat to their health and safety,” the agency wrote in documents ordering the shutdown.

Candy Bowlin, who, according to state documents, runs the day care with Shane Lee Freemen, denied the charges Wednesday.

“The incident is that a little boy lied and said something happened that didn’t happen,” Bowlin said before hanging up on a reporter.

KDHE documents indicated the incident took place April 5 and that the agency received a complaint on April 7.

According to those documents, investigators asked Freemen not to be present at the home during the investigation, but he declined. Authorities then sought and received the emergency suspension on Monday; KDHE made the action public on Wednesday.

Love-N-Home is allowed by its license to care for up to 12 children. Watson said no previous enforcement actions had been taken against the home, but that two investigations, one in January and one in March, were recently undertaken.

“The findings are still under review, so I can’t go into detail on those,” Watson said.

The day care has appealed the suspension.