Matthew Maxwell worked at Niagara Nursery School prior to working at Niagara Falls daycare. Police believe there may be more victims

A man who was previously employed at the Niagara Nursery School & Child Care Centre in Niagara-on-the-Lake has been charged after a child under the age of five was choked and assaulted at a daycare in Niagara Falls.

In a news release Tuesday night, Niagara Regional Police said Matthew Maxwell, 26, of St. Catharines, was charged with aggravated assaulted after an incident at Way to Grow Daycare in Niagara Falls.

Police said the child “sustained injuries as a result of the incident” and that detectives “have reason to believe there may be more victims.”

Maxwell, originally from Niagara-on-the-Lake, worked for a period of time at the Niagara Nursery School.

A source who didn’t want to be named said Maxwell was let go from the Niagara-on-the-Lake school for grabbing a child’s arm.

The only incident on record with the Ontario Ministry of Education’s registry is a compliance order from 2022.

Reached Tuesday night, Niagara Nursery School executive director Candice Penny said, “We cannot comment at this time.”

By law, child care centres are obligated to report what is a called a “serious occurrence” — which includes incidents of abuse — and display the report publicly and in a visible spot within the daycare centre.

Police said the investigation began on Friday, Sept. 13, at about 1:30 p.m. after “a serious assault” occurred at the Niagara Falls facility.

The College of Early Childhood Educators’ public registry shows a Matthew James Maxwell became an early childhood educator on June 18, 2020. His registration status is shown as being in “good standing.”

Police are urging anyone with more information, or who suspects their child may have been a victim, to contact detectives at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009468.

Anyone who wishes to provide information anonymously can do so through Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477.