Tonawanda, N.Y. (WBEN) – New York State is now stepping in to investigate a violent attack that occurred at People Inc. on Heritage Road in the town of Tonawanda on April 1. The non-profit organization provides services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A patient of the facility is accused of brutally assaulting another patient. The incident raises concerns regarding the safety of both patients and staff at the facility.
WBEN obtained the police report through a Freedom of Information request. Due to the sensitive nature of the story, we have made the editorial decision not to release the names of either of the two people involved in the attack at this time.
The police report states that two employees of People, Inc. took four patients on a day trip in the company van. When they returned to the parking lot of People Inc., one of the patients became upset and started violently attacking another patient. The suspect was pulling the victim's hair, biting her, and smashing her head against the window repeatedly.
The employees told police they each went to a sliding door of the van, in an attempt to stop the assault, but because the suspect was sitting in the third row next to the victim, they say they were unable to reach him. They had to go inside the building to get another employee to help.
When officers arrived to the scene, they found the victim unconscious on the ground. She went into cardiac arrest more than once after being attacked and she was rushed to Erie County Medical Center.
According to the police report, she suffered a broken neck, the report states, “it did not appear likely to hospital staff that she would survive the injuries.”
The other patient is charged with assault. He was arraigned and taken to the Erie County Holding Center.
Police charged him, according to the report, because he is a danger to the public, “due to the gravity of the injuries and the risk ------ posed to himself, the public, and the employees at this group home…”
After the incident, officers spoke to the patient’s behavior therapist from his group home in Niagara Falls who told them, according to the report – “____ is very difficult to control during his episodes and staff frequently has to call the police to contain him. He often has to be taken to ECMC.” People Inc. employees also told responding officers this is not the first time this person has been aggressive, “he becomes very enraged and usually gets physically violent and difficult to control.”
WBEN reached out to People Inc. to get answers about its supervision and safety standards. An official with the non-profit emailed us this statement, instead:
"Our deepest sympathies are with the family of a person we serve who recently sustained serious injuries following an incident with a fellow person served. We care deeply for all of those we provide for and take the health and safety of every person we serve very seriously. It is our greatest priority to provide safe and high-quality services every day. To protect the persons involved and their loved ones, People Inc. cannot comment any further while we continue to work closely and cooperate fully with authorities investigating this incident."
--People Inc.
We also reached out to the public information officer with the town of Tonawanda police. We requested an update on the victim’s condition. We also asked for an interview about this case. He originally told WBEN to email him questions, but as of Friday evening, he has not responded.
New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities is now investigating this incident. We received this response from Erin Silk, Assistant Director of Communications:
“The safety of people being supported is OPWDD’s first priority. As this is an ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further at this time.”
We reached out to the state’s Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Erin Hogan, Director of Communications and Public Information released a statement:
“The Justice Center cannot comment on pending investigations.”
WBEN will continue to follow this story.