Man Hit Vulnerable Woman at Burnsville Care Facility: Charges

An employee at a Burnsville care facility has been charged with fourth-degree assault and disorderly conduct after police say he hit a vulnerable resident in the face. The incident allegedly took place Sunday evening at the Emerald Crest Memory Care Center in Burnsville.

KSTP reported that the alleged incident took place after a dispute regarding the facility's lights:

According to the criminal complaint, the reporting party said an 85-year-old resident had wandered out of her bed that night, which was typical because of her dementia. A staff member approached the woman and then turned off the lights, and the woman started banging on a table demanding that the lights be turned back on, police say. At that time, 57-year-old Zephaniah Nyang’au Ontere of Burnsville walked up to the woman and hit her in the face with an open hand, according to the complaint. Ontere then took the woman back to her room.

Read much more at KSTP.

Image via Dakota County Jail