MANCHESTER, NJ — A licensed practical nurse and two other healthcare workers at a Manchester Township facility have been criminally charged following an incident involving an 87-year-old dementia patient who was pepper-sprayed and left without care for nearly an hour, police announced.
The charges stem from a March 19 incident at Whiting Gardens, a care facility on Hilltop Road, where staff reported an altercation between personnel and a patient. Surveillance footage reviewed by Manchester Township Police showed the elderly man damaging property but not behaving aggressively before being pepper-sprayed at close range by nurse Lisa Erikson, officials said.
Key Points
- Nurse Lisa Erikson allegedly pepper-sprayed an elderly dementia patient in the face and failed to provide medical aid.
- The patient remained unattended for 46 minutes before being hospitalized.
- Three healthcare workers were charged with elder abuse-related offenses.
Erikson, 58, of Manchester, initially told police she used personal pepper spray to de-escalate the patient, who she described as agitated and destructive. However, video evidence reportedly contradicted her account, showing Erikson approaching the man from behind and deploying the spray twice in rapid succession, causing him to collapse.
The patient lay on the floor for several minutes before being physically moved to his room by Certified Nursing Assistant Joshua Benner, 34, of Brick, with assistance from Erikson. The man received no medical attention until Manchester EMS arrived 46 minutes later and transported him to Community Medical Center for evaluation.
Three staffers charged in connection with incident
Following an investigation and consultation with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, warrants were issued on April 2 for Erikson, Benner, and nursing supervisor Celia Anetz-Sanzari, 58, of Manchester. All three face charges of abandonment or neglect of an elderly person or disabled adult.
Erikson, who also faces charges of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, was arrested April 11 and taken to Ocean County Jail, where she is awaiting a detention hearing.
Authorities have not released further information on the current condition of the patient.