GOLDSBORO, N.C. (WNCN) — Deputies in central North Carolina said
Monday that a health care worker was caught on camera stealing from an
elderly victim.
The incident was first reported in early March when a man who was
caring for an elderly person told deputies about a felony larceny,
according to a Wayne County Sheriff’s Office news release.
The man told deputies on March 3 that money was missing from the
elderly person’s wallet — “so much” money was missing that the man set
up a video camera to monitor the wallet, deputies said in the release.
Nine days later, the man filed another report with deputies about the matter.
“The camera caught a health care employee who was coming to the
residence on a regular basis, going through the victim’s wallet,”
deputies said in the news release.
Late last month, warrants were filed for the arrest of Latavia Sharie Glonesya Brown, 24, deputies said.
Brown was caught and charged with three felony counts of elderly
exploitation on March 26 in Greene County, according to deputies.
A court date is set for Brown in Wayne County District Court the morning of April 16, according to court records.
Lisa
Jo Cooper, 61, and Kecia Danielle Johnson, 57, were each charged with
injury to an elderly person, with bonds set at $100,000. (KPRC)
TEXAS CITY, Texas – Charges have been filed against two nursing home employees who were caught on camera beating and dragging an 87-year-old resident, according to officials with the Texas City Police Department.
Lisa
Jo Cooper, 61, and Kecia Danielle Johnson, 57, both turned themselves
in Thursday and booked into the Galveston County Jail. They were each
charged with injury to an elderly person, with bonds set at $100,000.
On
Oct. 2, Texas City police received a complaint about an elderly male
being assaulted by two caregivers at a local nursing home in the 1700
block of 25th Street North.
Here's what we know
Video
appears to show Cooper and Johnson, who were both employees of Solidago
Health and Rehabilitation, dragging Cornelio Salinas across the floor,
hitting and kicking him, and then tossing him on the bed.
His family said facility staff told them he fell and had to go to the hospital.
“You never think it’s going to happen to one of your family members,” his grandson, Lizandro Solis, said. “It’s sad.”
The family installed the camera after Salinas complained of staff members mistreating him.
“That’s
no way to treat nobody, especially an elderly person with one leg. What
is he going to do to you? How can he hurt you?” Solis said.
Salinas was transported to the hospital with bruised eyes and had to wear a neck brace.
After the video surfaced and went viral, the nursing home released a statement, which read:
“The
health and safety of our residents remain our first priority. Our
thoughts are with the resident and the family. Solidago Health and
Rehabilitation enforces strict policies prohibiting patient abuse.
Prompt action has been taken to ensure our residents are safe. Any
violations of the abuse policy are reported to the appropriate agencies
and legal authorities and the facility works closely with those
agencies.”
Among
the violations are allegations that the facility “failed to provide
residents with care and services related to activities of daily living”
and “failed to attain or maintain the highest practicable, physical,
mental, and psychosocial well-being.”
State records show the nursing home was fined $19,800.
“HHSC
is aware of the allegations involving this nursing facility and we are
actively investigating to determine compliance with all relevant health
and safety rules,” a spokesperson for the HHSC wrote in a statement to
KPRC 2.
Salinas is expected to recover, but in the meantime, his family has a message for others with elderly relatives.
“Keep an eye on them. Put a camera on them. You never know when it can happen to y’all,” Solis said.
According to the Houston-Galveston Area Council,
elder abuse is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the country. Signs
could include trouble sleeping, confusion or depression, or unexplained
bruises, burns or scars.
If you suspect elder abuse, you can report it to the Texas Department of Family Services at 1-800-252-5400.
