Georgia nursing assistant’s abuse, assault charges sent to grand jury

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Hamilton County Sheriff's Office / Gary Crownover, 52
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office / Gary Crownover, 52

A certified nursing assistant who allegedly repeatedly punched, slapped and yelled at a 90-year-old resident at a Chattanooga dementia and Alzheimer's facility had his case bound over Tuesday to a grand jury.

Gary Crownover, 52, of LaFayette, Georgia, is facing one count of abuse of a vulnerable adult and one count of assault.

He was free on a $20,000 bond and spoke to Hamilton County General Sessions Judge Larry Ables from the audience.

Crownover waived his right Tuesday to a preliminary hearing, where prosecutors present case evidence in an attempt to establish probable cause.

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He was suspended from his job as a nursing assistant at Ascension Living Valley Residence on Mountain Creek Road in connection with the incident.

An officer responded Oct. 23 to a report of elder abuse at the facility, the complaint in Crownover's case said.

A female witness, who was his colleague, reported that the incident involved a male resident who was being given a shower, the complaint said.

She and Crownover were both assisting him. They had the, at the time, 90-year-old man sitting in a shower chair facing a wall.

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"Witness stated that Mr. Crownover was bending over, and the victim hit him in the face knocking his glasses off," the complaint said.

The female assisting nurse alleged Crownover became very upset and ripped the chair with the victim seated in it completely out of the shower before dropping both onto the floor.

Crownover is accused of hitting the victim in the head with a closed fist multiple times and smacking him repeatedly in the face, the complaint said.

The female nurse told authorities that Crownover said, "I can't wait for you to die soon" to the man. Crownover was allegedly cursing at him, too.

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"Victim stated she was shocked with the incident," the complaint said, referring to the witness.

There was allegedly blood on a towel from the victim's left knee, and his right eye was red, the complaint said.

He was taken back to his room and placed in bed, and the witness reported the incident immediately after.

"The victim did not speak while I was on scene due to being an elderly vulnerable adult with diminished mental capacity," the responding officer wrote in the complaint.

Contact Sofia Saric at ssaric@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.

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