Police investigating reports of abuse at local healthcare facility

News-Times
News-Times

By Tia Lyons

Staff Writer

El Dorado police are investigating a series of allegations of physical and verbal abuse at a local residential health care facility.

On April 26, a staff member of Grace Point Health Care and Rehabilitation, 1700 Short E. Hillsboro, told police several clients have reported physical and verbal abuse by an employee.

One client, 84, said that a resident said that on several occasions, the employee has struck him in the chest and stomach and pulled "large portions" of skin on his chest.

He said the incidents occurred between April 23 and 25. Police said there was no sign of injury on the resident.

Another client alleged on April 25 that the same employee had physically and verbally assaulted him the previous night.

The 78-year-old man said he had called for assistance and the employee "yanked the call button out of his hand," hurting his thumb.

He said she then struck him in the face and called him names. The client said he is blind and he recognized the sound of the employee's voice.

He said the employee previously exhibited such behavior toward him. Police said there were no visible signs of injury on the client. Another resident complained on April 25 that an employee, a night CNA, had been rude to her and "was not nice."

The woman, 68, said the employee has made such statements as, "You can help yourself," and "There are things you can do for yourself."

The suspect was taken into custody on April 25 on a separate charge, a warrant for violation of the Arkansas Hot Check Law, according to a police report.

Vehicle break-ins

Police are also looking into a rash of vehicle break-ins that were reported on April 28 in the same area on the north side of town.

A woman told police that someone broke into her vehicle at her residence in the 500 block of Meadow Lane and stole a digital camera.

Two man reported that someone entered their vehicles at a residence in the 500 block of Mockingbird Lane.

One man said $5 cash was stolen from his vehicle. No items were reported missing from the second vehicle, whose owner said the vehicle was unlocked at the time. A woman in the 500 block of Claremont Drive told police that someone entered her vehicle. She said several items had been disturbed no items appeared missing. She also noted that her vehicle was unlocked at the time.

At 301 Hathaway, a man told officers someone entered his pickup truck and rifled through it. No items were missing.

A man also told officers that someone entered his vehicle at his residence in the 800 block of Crestwood. No items were reported missing. The man told police his truck was unlocked at the time of the theft.

A police report also indicated that someone broke into a building in the 400 block of Claremont Drive. No further details were available.

Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.

Upcoming Events