The three Akron group home workers who are facing charges for assaulting a 20-year-old man with developmental disabilities have been fired.
According to the Summit County Sheriff's Office, the assault happened at an Akron group home.
The investigation revealed that staff members of the group home brought the man into the basement of the facility, held him against his will and struck him several times with a broom handle.
Authorities say the workers assaulted the man because he ate a sandwich belonging to a staff member.
The group home sits on a quiet suburban street in Akron, but the employees, according to police records, work for ViaQuest – a home health services company.
"We are just as shocked as everyone else. As soon as we became aware, we fired all three of the employees,” said Emily Stickley, VP of Human Resources for Via Quest.
Stickley also told News 5 over the phone, all of the employees undergo a background check and training.
Via Quest is overseen by the Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board.
"We have taken all necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of this individual and others that may have come into contact with these staff,” said Billie Jo David, the communications director of the disabilities board.
Inspector Bill Holland from the Summit County Sheriff's Office said the sheriff's office has a full-time detective devoted to the abuse and exploitation of the developmentally disabled and, though sad and shocking, he says cases like this one happen far too often.
"Unfortunately, this isn't uncommon," said Holland. "Each time you see this it's shocking because anybody that would do this to someone period, let alone to someone with developmental disabilities, this is taken very seriously.”
On Nov. 2, Dominique Gladney, 23, was arrested and charged with felonious assault, abduction and assault.
Gladney was the home manager for the facility.
Octavious Thomason, 43, was arrested and charged with felonious assault and abduction. He was the program director for the facility.
They were both booked in the Summit County Jail.
On Nov. 9, Mennyon Davis, 26, was arrested and charged with felonious assault and abduction. She was also an employee of the facility.
Further charges and arrests are pending the outcome of the investigation. All three employees are out on bond.
Officials say a new provider has since been contacted to provide services to the group home.
