A home-health employee has been charged with sexually abusing an 82-year-old man who was one of his patients.
Police in Rossville arrested Tom Scroggins on Wednesday as he was about to visit the patient in his home, Chief Sid Adams said.
Scroggins, whose age was not available from police, was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of aggravated sodomy, Adams said. Other charges may be forthcoming, he said.
Scroggins worked for both ResCare, a home service that contracts with the local Veterans Affairs department, and for Hutcheson Medical Center, Adams said.
Several weeks ago, the patient's family noticed small bruises on his arms and became suspicious, Adams said, so they bought a small video camera.
When the family viewed the tape, they found "not only was [Scroggins] physically and mentally abusing him, but he was sexually abusing him," Adams said.
Scroggins was arrested during a traffic stop as he was driving to the patient's home, the police chief said.
Attempts to reach officials at ResCare were unsuccessful Wednesday.
Haley Johnson, marketing director at Hutcheson Medical Center, said Scroggins did not work with patients at the hospital. He was contracted as needed and worked as an environmental service employee cleaning and doing maintenance work, she said.
A background check is made on all employees at the hospital, she said.
Scroggins is being held at the Walker County Jail. As of Wednesday evening, Adams said he was unaware of any date for a bond hearing.
Contact Joy Lukachick at jlukachick@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.