2 Staff Members Arrested For Endangering Welfare Of 16-Year-Old At Behavioral Health Facility: NYSP

RED HOOK, NY — Abuse allegations at a behavioral care facility have now led to the arrest of two staff members, according to investigators.

On March 26, the Rhinebeck Bureau of Criminal Investigation received a report of a concerning incident at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, in the Town of Red Hook.

Investigators found that a staff member, 36-year-old Caitlin Cambridge, of Wappingers Falls, used excessive physical force to push a 16-year-old resident into a chair, and then used a desk to physically push the resident across the room.

According to investigators, a teaching assistant, 48-year-old Erika J. Travis, of Kingston, was present and witnessed the incident. State police say that Travis failed to intervene and failed to report the incident.

In addition, police say that immediately following the incident, when the resident was cleaning up, Travis dumped the contents of the desk the resident had just picked up, prompting the resident to clean it again.

State police say the incident was later identified through an internal video audit.

Further investigation determined that Cambridge provided a false account of the incident.

As a result of the investigation, on March 27, Cambridge was arrested and charged with felony first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person; and misdemeanor second-degree falsifying business records.

Travis was arrested and charged with misdemeanor second-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person.

Both Cambridge and Travis were issued appearance tickets returnable to the Town of Red Hook Court on April 23.