Tyler EvansA disability caretaker was arrested over the weekend after allegedly beating a patient with a leather belt.
Tyler Evans, 29, works at a home for persons with developmental disabilities in the 8000 block of Igou Gap Road. He is accused of beating one of the patients because the patient "would not calm down" after Evans wouldn't let him have a soda, Hamilton County Court records show.
Police were called to the facility on Jan. 9 at around 4 p.m. after another caregiver noticed "visible injuries on [the patient's] face" two days earlier.
Upon noticing the injuries, the caretaker alerted the manager who instructed another caretaker to do a full body check on the patient to find any other injuries. Caregivers found a bruise on his left thigh and he was taken to a clinic for evaluation and treatment.
The injuries were then reported to the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities before finally calling police on Jan. 9.
Because of his disability, it was impossible to interview the patient, so investigators interviewed several caregivers and one other patient in an attempt to determine when and how the injuries were inflicted.
Officers spoke with one caregiver who said the patient "became agitated" during the shift change on Jan. 6 because Evans wouldn't let him have the soft drink. The caregiver said Evans retrieved a belt and threatened to beat the patient if he didn't calm down.
The second patient officers spoke to showed them the belt that was allegedly used and said he saw Evans beat the victim with said belt.
Evans was arrested on May 12 and is charged with exploitation of an adult. His bond was initially set at $5,000, court records show.