Man Charged With Allegedly Assaulting Vulnerable Adult At Nursing Home
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 57-year-old Burnsville man is accused of assaulting an elderly vulnerable adult at a nursing home he was employed at, according to charges filed in Dakota County.
Zephaniah Nyang'Au Ontere is charged with fourth-degree assault on a vulnerable adult and disorderly conduct as a caregiver against a vulnerable adult – both gross misdemeanors – in connection to the Dec. 18, 2016 incident.
Ontere is accused of slapping an 85-year-old female patient, who suffers from dementia, at the Emerald Crest Memory Care Center in Burnsville. The patient had previously wandered out of bed and began banging on a table. That's when the resident caregiver, identified as Ontere, allegedly walked up to her and slapped her with an open hand. The patient was then escorted back to her room by Ontere and another staff member.
Authorities say a surveillance video recording of the incident showed the victim being slapped by Ontere, the complaint said.
Ontere was later arrested and admitted to slapping the victim. Authorities say he was apologetic and begged for forgiveness, the complaint said.
Ontere has been fired from his job due to the incident. If convicted, he faces up to one year imprisonment for the assault charge and up to 90 days in jail on the disorderly conduct charge.
