Apr 11, 2017 By The 2 min read

A North Belle Vernon man who worked as a certified nursing assistant at a Carroll Township nursing home was charged with assaulting a 75-year-old resident there.

Ryan M. French, 39, of Henry Avenue faces charges of neglect of a care-dependent person and simple assault at Havencrest Health and Rehabilitation Center. The nursing home would not release whether French is still employed by the facility.

Township police Officer Robert Tekavec said he was called to the nursing home on Jan. 28 to investigate the alleged assault.

Police alleged French assaulted the man because he took French’s Red Bull energy drink. In a statement to risk management director at the facility, French said that the man swung at him first, according the affidavit filed with the case.

Tekavec indicated in court papers that the alleged victim had buttons missing from his shirt and red marks on his neck, face, arms and leg.

When he talked to the alleged victim and his daughter, Tekavec wrote, the two were initially reluctant to press charges.

“After a few days when the true extent of the injuries started to appear, the victim’s daughter made contact with this department and wanted us to continue to investigate the situation and file charges if necessary,” he wrote.

The matter was also investigated by adult protective services and the state Department of Health’s division of nursing care facilities, police said.

Tekavec indicated he tried to call French to discuss the case with him several times, and did not get return phone calls. He noted that French also did not respond to a note left at his home in March.

The misdemeanor charges were filed Monday before Magisterial District Judge Larry Hopkins. French is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 11.