Lawrence day care remains shut down amid drug-selling investigation

A Lawrence day care — shut down by state officials in October after being searched by police — will remain closed, after the day care’s owner failed to appear at a state administrative hearing Monday.

Tiffany C. Hubbard, who operated the Children’s Playpen day care out of her home at 766 Lake St., was the subject of a drug investigation, according to police. A search of the day care was performed Oct. 24, and police suspected that crack cocaine and marijuana were being sold from the home, according to a police report.

The day after the search, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment — which licenses day care facilities — issued an emergency shutdown order.

But Hubbard appealed that order to the Office of Administrative Hearings. But because Hubbard didn’t appear at a hearing on Monday, an order was issued that requires the day care to remain closed, and that prohibits Hubbard from operating a day care facility in Kansas.

Though he couldn’t speak about Hubbard’s case specifically, Bob Tomlinson, director of the Office of Administrative Hearings, said such cases can still be further appealed to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Hubbard has not been arrested, but materials seized during the search have been tested, said Lawrence Police Sgt. Trent McKinley. At this point, police are compiling further information before forwarding the case to the District Attorney’s Office for review, he said.

Hubbard has no arrest or conviction record in Kansas, according to a KBI records search.