A Latrobe woman’s caretaker was jailed Monday for allegedly pulling the woman’s hair to lift her out of a wheelchair and then dropping her onto the floor, where she hit her head, Latrobe police said.
Nicole M. Crusan, 48, allegedly mistreated the 71-year-old stroke victim, who was on the floor and could not get up when an an officer arrived at the scene, according to the affidavit.
The woman told police that she was arguing with Crusan when she was pulled from the wheelchair and dragged around the residence. Hospital staff told police the victim suffered a head injury and contusions to her torso, police said.
Crusan was charged with aggravated assault with an attempt to cause serious bodily injury, abuse of a care-dependent person, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.
The woman told police Crusan, who was working for CareSphere of Bethlehem, had been taking care of her for seven months, according to the affidavit. A spokeswoman for the home care company declined to comment.
Crusan was arraigned Monday before Jeannette District Judge Joseph DeMarchis and placed in the Westmoreland County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bond, pending a preliminary hearing on June 16.
Crusan did not have an attorney listed on court documents.
