Nursing assistant accused of pushing disabled resident to the ground over request for ice

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (CBS12) — A nursing home employee is accused of pushing a disabled patient to the ground over a request for ice.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said on Wednesday, deputies began an investigation after a report that an employee had battered a vulnerable adult resident at Orchid Cove at Palm Harbor, a nursing home, at 2600 Highlands Blvd N.

The sheriff's office said the administrative coordinator for the facility reported the incident, which occurred earlier in the day. Throughout the course of the investigation, deputies discovered that 51-year-old Delana Dallas-Hudson, who is a certified nursing assistant, had pushed the victim to the ground after they asked for ice.

Multiple witnesses told investigators that they heard the victim request ice multiple times, then recounted hearing someone falling to the ground.

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One staff member told deputies they heard Dallas-Hudson say, “Go ahead, hit me!”

The sheriff's office said the victim requested only ice, but Dallas-Hudson provided the victim with a cup of ice and water. The victim, who is nearly non-verbal, began following Dallas-Hudson, stating “ice” when Dallas-Hudson grabbed and crushed the cup the victim was holding, causing the ice water to spray all over the victim. Dallas-Hudson then pushed the victim to the ground. The victim sustained minor injuries.

When deputies spoke to Hudson she admitted to crushing the cup the victim was holding, causing ice water to strike the victim. Deputies said she also admitted to pushing the victim in the chest even though the victim offered no threat of violence to her.

Dallas-Hudson was fired following the investigation and deputies said she was arrested and charged with one count of abuse of a disabled adult.