Trenton, NJ – A licensed practical nurse and a nursing assistant have been charged after prosecutors say an elderly man was assaulted and neglected at an Ocean County rehabilitation facility.
Lisa L. Erikson, 56, of Manchester, was indicted by a state grand jury on multiple charges, including aggravated assault, assault on an institutionalized elderly person, neglect of an elderly or disabled adult, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, authorities announced Tuesday. Certified nursing assistant Joshua Benner, 34, of Brick, faces a neglect charge in the same case.
According to court filings, the incident occurred on March 19 at Whiting Gardens Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Whiting. Officials said the elderly resident, who suffered from dementia, depression, and anxiety, had pulled cords from a computer mouse and phone receiver before striking a nursing cart.
Prosecutors allege Erikson confronted the man in the hallway and sprayed him twice with oleoresin capsicum, a chemical irritant commonly known as pepper spray. The victim, who tried to shield himself, was left on the floor for several minutes before crawling into another resident’s room.
Authorities say Erikson and Benner then moved the man back to his room without providing aid. Emergency responders arrived at 8:53 p.m. and transported him to a hospital for treatment.
“This was a physical assault on an elderly victim, who was then left to wait for treatment for his injuries,” said Division of Criminal Justice Director Theresa L. Hilton. “The Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor is prosecuting this case accordingly.”
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin condemned the conduct, saying residents of adult care facilities “need to be treated with respect, dignity, and care.”
The case is being handled by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit within the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, with assistance from Manchester police and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
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Key Points
- A Manchester nurse is accused of pepper-spraying an elderly dementia patient at Whiting Gardens Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.
- A nursing assistant is also charged with neglect for failing to aid the victim.
- Prosecutors say the patient was left unattended until emergency responders arrived.
A quiet hallway confrontation has now erupted into serious criminal charges.