ALERT: Father Arrested After Bringing Loaded Gun to Daycare

Canton Township police in Michigan arrested one of the parents of a young child who brought a loaded firearm to a daycare center. The incident occurred Monday morning at the Children’s World Early Learning Center, located on Sheldon Road.

Staff at the center found the firearm inside the child’s backpack and immediately removed it. They then called emergency services, according to confirmation from local authorities.

Canton Police officers responded to the scene and collected the weapon. They confirmed it was not a standard-issue police service firearm.

How the daycare staff reacted to the discovery

Canton Police Chief Joseph Bialy called the incident «an extremely serious matter.» He praised the quick reaction of the center’s staff, which prevented the situation from escalating.

«I’ve seen the video and I’ve seen what their staff did; they were prepared and ready to remove the firearm and keep all the children safe,» Bialy said, according to WWJ. WXYZ 7 News Detroit reported the account of Amy Paggeot, mother of another child enrolled at the center, who described the moment as terrifying.

In a statement sent to CBS News Detroit, Children’s World Early Learning Center said it takes pride in being one of the safest centers in the Canton area. The daycare added that no one was injured and that all safety protocols were followed.

Who is the arrested parent and what is police investigating

Authorities confirmed that one of the child’s parents is a police officer in a neighboring community. However, local media outlets such as WOOD TV reported that the officer was not the person arrested.

It remains unclear how the child obtained the weapon or who it belonged to. Canton police continue investigating these details before closing the case.

A parent at the center, identified as Byron Foxworth, told 7 News Detroit that the officer involved should have acted more carefully. The family related to the incident is no longer enrolled at the daycare, according to other parents who confirmed this to the same outlet.

What Michigan law says about firearm storage

Michigan approved a safe firearm storage law in 2023. The law requires keeping any unsupervised firearm unloaded and locked up when it is reasonable to believe a minor could be present in the location.

Violations of this safe storage law can result in misdemeanor charges of 93 days or felony charges with penalties of up to 15 years in prison, depending on the circumstances of the case, according to WOOD TV. The severity of the penalty depends on whether the minor was injured or used the weapon.

This legal framework reflects a national pattern: several states have tightened their firearm storage laws following similar incidents in schools and daycare centers. The goal is to reduce minors’ access to firearms in the home.

What comes next in the legal proceedings

Canton Police indicated that once the investigation is completed, they will refer the case to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for review. That office will determine whether there are formal charges against the arrested parent.

At this time, authorities have not released the name of the detainee or additional details about the charges. The prosecutor is expected to announce next steps in the coming weeks.

Parents seeking guidance on safe firearm storage in the home can consult guidelines from organizations such as Be SMART or the Michigan Department of Health. Storing firearms unloaded and locked up, away from children’s reach, is the primary recommendation from child safety experts.