Days after video of what appears to be abuse at an East Hartford group home surfaced, police have charged the employee they said was in the video.
Police said the video shows Angelica Rivera, 33, assaulting a patient at 371 King St., East Hartford
sometime over the past year. Officials said the patient has an intellectual disability.
When detectives interviewed Rivera on July 11, she admitted that she was the person in the video, according to a news release issued on Friday morning.
Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Rivera on July 12 and arrested her around 7 p.m. when she turned herself in.
Rivera was charged with cruelty to persons, unlawful restraint in the first degree, intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the second degree, assault in the third degree, abuse in the third degree and disorderly conduct.
She was released on a $25,000 non-surety bond and is due in court on Aug. 1.
Police also executed a search and seizure warrant related to this investigation around 1 p.m. on Thursday at 323 Tolland Street, East Hartford.
Local
No arrests were made while police conducted the search.
The state Department of Developmental Services has placed the provider, e Options Unlimited, on enhanced monitoring.
Staff from the department will be allowed to assess every individual residing in each of the Options Unlimited homes for any signs of abuse and to monitor the homes at various times during the day, sometimes unannounced, according to Developmental Services.
It is also suspends all new admissions to the provider.
"Most public and private employees provide the utmost care and support to thousands of individuals they serve,” Commissioner Terrence W. Macy said in a news release. “But to the ones that don’t, I hope the message is clear – abuse of any kind will not be tolerated."
The provider, Options Unlimited, Inc., of Bloomfield, also received the DVD anonymously, officials said.
Options Unlimited issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
"We are deeply saddened and appalled by this incident. As soon we became aware of it, we took prompt action and placed the employee on unpaid administrative leave," Michael Lundie, director or program services, said in a news release. "We are working closely with DDS and the East Hartford Police Department on the investigation."
Anyone who has knowledge of abuse or neglect against an individual with intellectual disability should report the information to either the Office of Protection and Advocacy, if the individual is between the ages of 18-59, the Department of Children and Families, for children aged 17-years-old or under and the Department of Social Services for adults aged of 60 years or over.
