Florida assisted living workers accused of whipping residents

Two Florida assisted living facility workers were arrested after they allegedly whipped and tackled an elderly man to the ground over the weekend, according to authorities.

The appalling attack was carried out Sunday by staffers Rosa Edwards, 23 and Aneisha Hall, 19, after they spotted the man, who is a resident at the facility, pushing an elderly female resident down the hall at Inspired Living at Ivy Ridge Assisted Living Facility, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s County Office alleged.

Edwards began to whip the man with a lanyard as she laughed before a physical confrontation ensued, authorities said.

Edwards and Hall then grabbed the man and forced him to the ground, the sheriff’s office said.

Because the man was still holding onto the wheelchair with the woman on board, she also went down as the wheelchair fell sideways.

After the fracas, the two workers ran away as the elderly residents laid on the floor.

The suspects later claimed to a coworker that the male resident battered the female resident, according to authorities.

But the executive director of the facility was not buying their story, and checked surveillance video before contacting law enforcement Monday.

Edwards allegedly admitted to investigators she used excessive force during the incident and that both women should have handled it differently, the sheriff’s office said.

Edwards and Hall were each charged with two counts of battery of a person 65-years age or older. They were suspended from their jobs pending termination, the sheriff’s office said.

Neither resident was injured, the sheriff’s office said.