The Daily Toreador - Student Newspaper of Texas Tech

Lubbock County Sheriff's deputies and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot's criminal officers arrested a nurse at a nursing home in Brownfield Oct. 20 on warrants connected to a September indictment on two counts of injury to disabled persons.

Tiffany Cunningham, a certified nurse aide employed at the Bender Terrace facility, was arrested for allegedly slapping two Alzheimer's patients Jan. 7, while employed at the nursing home, according to a Texas Attorney General's Office news release.

Cunningham, 26, was indicted by a Lubbock County grand jury in September and charged with two counts of assault for the January incident.

Lubbock County Sheriff's Office deputies assisted the Attorney General's officers in making the arrest Oct. 20 at the Bender Terrace facility located on 27th Street.

Eyewitness statements and confirmations resulted in the assault investigation, said an attorney general spokesman.

Witnesses said Cunningham slapped a resident while trying to assist her with a bath and then slapped another resident in retaliation after the disabled person hit her after witnessing the first attack.

"I will not tolerate the abuse of seniors in this state," Abbott said in a public statement.

"Those who are entrusted with the care of patients who cannot care for themselves must live up to their responsibilities or face consequences."

Undercover investigations conducted by the attorney general's Criminal Medicaid Fraud

Officers revealed Cunningham allegedly has an extensive history of temperament problems with the residents and staff of Bender Terrace, according to the release.

Cunningham was an employee of Bender Terrace, located at 4510 27th St., for a little more than a year until Jan. 9, said an attorney general spokesman.

Assault charges against Cunningham are classified as third-degree felonies, and she could face penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine.

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