4 health care workers at Phoenix adult home accused of abusing resident

PHOENIX – Four medical professionals at a Phoenix adult care facility were arrested for allegedly abusing a resident and making a false report about it, authorities said Thursday.

Staff members at the facility near Seventh Street and Dobbins Road initially called police Aug. 24 to report that a 34-year-old woman had assaulted them and another resident, according to Phoenix Police Department email.

Responding officers learned that none of the accusers were injured and did not find information to corroborate the allegations, police said.

Nobody working when police responded could access the facility’s video surveillance footage, but the care home’s director did the next day.

The director called police to tell them the video did not support the allegations.

Detectives then determined that four women who are certified medical professionals initiated the altercation, police said.

Police said the employees assaulted the resident and held her down. Video footage released by police showed the woman being taken down and pinned to the ground for nearly 20 minutes.

It was unclear what initiated the altercation.

The suspects were arrested Wednesday without incident, police said, and booked on the following charges:

• Stephanie James, 55: vulnerable adult abuse, false reporting of vulnerable adult and false reporting to police.
• Rodina Bailey, 59: vulnerable adult abuse (two counts), false reporting of vulnerable adult and false reporting to police.
• Tena Martinez, 54: vulnerable adult abuse and false reporting of vulnerable adult.
• Kristen Emerson, 30: vulnerable adult abuse, false reporting of vulnerable adult and false reporting to police.

Police are sending the case to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office for review.

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