A woman who suffers from a traumatic brain injury and relies on medical staff for her care, was abused by her personal caretaker, according to Florida's Attorney General.
Caretaker Erica R. Reid, 24, was an employee of NeuroRestorative Florida, a Medicaid-funded facility in Lutz, but is now charged with abusing a disabled adult.
According to Attorney General Pam Bondi's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Reid shoved the patient in the back, causing the victim to fall to the floor, and could have caused injury.
The Attorney General's Office says there is surveillance video of the incident, which shows the patient reaching for Reid's necklace before turning towards her room. Reid then pushed the patient from behind into her room, according to the arrest affidavit executed by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
NeuroRestorative Florida terminated Reid’s employment.
Reid has since posted bail, which was $5,000.
NeuroRestorative is a facility that houses a number of developmentally disabled residents.
According to the MFCU investigation, Reid became upset with the behavior of one of the disabled residents and shoved the resident in the back, causing the victim to fall to the floor.
Reid faces one count of abuse of a disabled adult, a third-degree felony.
If convicted, Reid faces up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines. The State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit will prosecute this case.
