The Brooklyn day-care center targeted by three gun-toting thieves in a brazen nap-time robbery attempt was being used by its owners as a secret drug warehouse, police said yesterday.
Investigators said they found 10 pounds of marijuana and $103,000 in cash in a basement closet at Special Moments Daycare, on East 52nd Street in East Flatbush.
The stunning drug mother lode was revealed after officers stopped the heist Friday by shooting a suspect — as little children slept a short distance away.
“It now appears the day-care center was a drug haven or where drugs in significant quantities were kept, primarily marijuana,” said NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly. “It appears to be what the robbers were looking for.”
Police arrested the center’s owner Diane Rogers, 37, and her husband Sherwin Rogers, 36, on drug charges.
“I mean it’s, like, it’s messed up,” said Yehiel Atkinson, whose daughter, Sheliya, 2, was in the facility during the botched robbery.
Atkinson could barely talk after learning the news.
“I didn’t think [Rogers] was on it like that,” he said. “I’m definitely not happy. You have people’s kids in there!”
Gavin Nugent, 34, and Dwayne Jackson, 35, allegedly burst in at about 12:20 p.m. — with Nugent waving a gun.
Carl Grierson, 39, a k a Kendrick Barker, stayed outside as a lookout, cops said.
A day-care worker managed to call 911 after the men demanded cash from the payroll box.
In the basement, responding officers shot Nugent when he allegedly aimed his weapon at them.
Nugent, who was in stable condition yesterday at Kings County Hospital, later told investigators about the drug cache.
Nugent would likely be charged with attempted murder, Kelly said.
All three men have been charged with robbery, burglary and weapon possession.
Additional reporting by Michael Blaustein