Vernon Group Home Staffer Accused of Abusing Disabled Client

VERNON, CT — A staff member at a Vernon group home for adults with "severe intellectual disabilities" has been charged with intentional cruelty to persons and other crimes for allegedly roughing up a client who could not defend himself, police said.

Obbileita Prude, 54, of Hartford, was arrested on Wednesday, police said. In addition to the cruelty charge, crimes listed on a warrant include third-degree assault, disorderly conduct, and second-degree unlawful restraint.

Clients at the home, located at 49 Tunnel Road, need 24-hour supervision, according to a warrant.

The incident seemingly most egregious was witnessed by a pair of staff members and took place on Oct. 28, when a male client had to use the bathroom, according to a warrant. Prude is accused in a warrant of grabbing the man by the shirt, yanking him out of a chair and "bullying" him to the bathroom.

Prude then pushed the man against a wall and pinned him there while cleaning him up from an accident, according to a warrant.

The client screamed "no" several times during the incident, according to witness accounts outlined in a warrant.

Prude was taken into custody at 9 p.m. Wednesday, held overnight on a $10,000 bond and was to appear in Rockville Superior Court on Thursday, according to an arrest report.

She had been accused of another assault, for which she was cleared of any wrongdoing and stealing, according to a warrant.

The man was described in a warrant as having the, "cognitive functioning of a small child."

Photo Credit: Vernon police