December 21, 2024

USA: Police Swarm Colonial Heights Nursing Home In VA, Arrested 18 Employees After 74yo Patient Death. Charged With Abuse And Neglect of vulnerable adults, Falsifying Patient Records.

UPDATE 12/24/24 at 4:51pm: Added info below.

WTVR CBS 6 published December 19, 2024: Judge calls Virginia nursing home death case 'gut-wrenching' and 'horrendous'. The prosecutor identified the victim as a 74-year-old woman with cerebral palsy and diabetes. She said the woman was supposed to be removed by a lift out of her bed, but that was never done.

***ORIGINAL POST BELOW***
🚨NO WHITE SUPREMACISTS INVOLVED🚨
🚨NO ISLAMIC JIHADISTS INVOLVED🚨
WTVR CBS 6 published December 18, 2024: Police swarm Colonial Heights nursing home, arrest employees after patient death. Colonial Heights police arrested multiple employees at the Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Wednesday morning, charging them with crimes ranging from abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults to falsifying patient records. 
WTVR CBS 6 pubilshed December 20, 2024: Nursing director, nurse charged in patient death appear in court.
WTVR CBS 6 published December 20, 2024: Company that owns Colonial Heights nursing home runs several other facilities. Innovative Healthcare Management LLC, owner of Colonial Heights Rehab and Nursing, is facing scrutiny following the recent arrest of 18 employees at the facility after the death of a 74-year-old woman residing there.

WTVR6 CBS News, VA local
written by Wayne Covil
Thursday December 19, 2024

COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. — Colonial Heights police arrested multiple employees at the Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Wednesday morning, charging them with crimes ranging from abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults to falsifying patient records. The arrests came after a complaint was made in October. Police say a 74-year-old patient was hospitalized and ultimately died due to inadequate care received at the facility.

Eighteen staff members have warrants issued against them, including Shawonda Jeter, 46, the administrator of the center and Danielle Harris, 53, who is a nurse. Both women are currently in custody without bond.

"We have secured warrants on 18 individuals who are staff members at Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center," Major Rob Ruxer, of the Colonial Heights Police, said.

More charges could be forthcoming as the investigation continues.

The series of arrests followed an investigation launched by the police in October after Adult Protective Services reported a potential elder abuse case.

Multiple local and state agencies, including the State Attorney General’s Elder Abuse Task Force, are involved in the ongoing investigation and were present during the arrests.

According to police, charges include both felony and misdemeanor counts, including the abuse of vulnerable adults, falsifying patient records, and obstruction of justice.

CBS 6 cameras captured evidence bags being removed from the facility.

"During the investigation, our investigators, as well as individuals with the Elder Abuse Task Force, have secured and served multiple search warrants on the facility in order to obtain medical records,” Ruxer said.

One nurse has been charged with five counts of misdemeanor falsifying patient records.

"The Virginia Department of Health has staff on the ground to ensure that all residents are receiving proper care and will remain involved to ensure that the proper individuals are placed in leadership positions moving forward," Delegate Mike Cherry told CBS 6 in a statement.

Colonial Heights police are still working to apprehend all 18 individuals and are requesting assistance from the public.

They are urging family and friends in the community to report any similar situations at the facility to the police department.

CBS 6 previously reported about Colonial Heights facility in July when the Virginia Department of Health's Office of Licensure and Certification looked into the nursing home following a CBS 6 investigation. The investigation uncovered four instances where the facility violated federal rules.

A PR firm sent us the following statement:

"We are aware of the events that happened today and are cooperating fully with law enforcement.”

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