Day-care center where girl tested positive for pot had violations

State inspectors logged years of violations for incomplete children’s records and unkempt conditions including a lingering odor of urine at a La Crescenta day-care facility where 2-year-old girl tested positive for an active ingredient in marijuana last week.

Roubena Hartounian, director of Bina’s Family Child Care, was repeatedly cited for failing to eliminate the strong odor of urine inside the facility in the 3200 block of Orange Avenue and maintaining improper equipment, according to records from the California Department of Social Services, which licenses day-care facilities.

Over the course of half a dozen unannounced visits since 2008, inspectors found feces on a restroom toilet, no working smoke detectors, and flies, spider webs and dead spiders on the ceiling of the children’s room in the facility.

Hartounian was also issued $1,500 in civil penalties for repeatedly failing to get proper background clearance for her parents, who were frequently seen inside the facility.

Calls made to Hartounian have not been returned, according to the Glendale News-Press.

Hartounian was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of child neglect and endangerment when detectives went to her day-care facility to investigate why a 2-year-old Montrose girl under her supervision tested positive for marijuana, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

The girl’s parents picked her up from the day care on Tuesday and noticed she was lethargic. When the girl’s condition didn’t improve, her parents took her to the hospital and doctors discovered THC, an active ingredient of marijuana, in her blood.

The incident sparked an investigation into the day-care facility, where detectives discovered rat droppings on children’s toys, faulty toilets and a filthy kitchen strewn with knives. Detectives also found drug paraphernalia, including a bong.

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Rocha is a Times Community News reporter.