Resident physically assaulted her peer by punching her in the face after a verbal altercation. Within a few seconds, another resident became involved and began physically assaulting the peer. During the altercation, a third resident ran up and kicked the peer. The altercation was ceased in under a minute by staff intervention. Upon separation, the peer exited the unit with staff while the residents remained on the unit.
Due to the nature of the attack, the age difference between initial perpetrator and victim, and the recent increase in assaultive behavior with the original resident, Springdale Police Department was contacted. Residents were detained and transported to Washington County Juvenile Detention Center by Springdale PD. All 3 perpetrators were seen by the judge at JDC and were charged with Battery 2nd degree. Two residents were transferred back to the facility after their hearing. One resident remained in custody at Washington County JDC after her hearing. Facility provider was notified of the incident and will be seeing resident for a medical assessment today to ensure there was no significant injury.
Licensing Specialist: Jarred Parnell.
The facility requested a copy of the police report to provide to Licensing. Licensing inquired of safety plans in place prior to the incident. Facility visited and video footage was reviewed.
- Technical Assistance provided regarding escalation and altercations in the future: When residents are exhibiting assaultive behavior and deregulation as a group, the facility will remove the target of the aggression and assaultive behavior to the milieu to process and diffuse the situation as a preventative measure. If there is only one deregulated resident exhibiting assaultive behavior, that resident will be removed to the milieu for processing to diffuse the situation.