911 calls released in beating that left 82-year-old patient dead
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The 911 calls have been released from an Augusta beating that left a 82-year-old patient dead in January.
Curtis Nekia Hightower, 28, was arrested on Sunday and charged with exploitation of an elderly or disabled person and aggravated battery, according to jail records.
He was released from jail after posting bond this week.
The incident happened on Jan. 5.
On Jan. 17, Harry Millard — a resident at Barclay Senior Living in the 200 block of Frazier Court — died at Piedmont Augusta Hospital.
LISTEN TO THE CALLS:
On Jan. 29, Richmond County deputies say they responded to Barclay after being notified of a past assault.
Deputies said they were told the management staff learned of an assault incident between a nursing assistant and a resident/patient.
Deputies said management was initially told the injuries were due to a fall and that Millard was transported to Piedmont Hospital for treatment.
“One of my resident patients, he was in the hallway being very combative. He started to hit one of the CNA. The CNA kind of moved out the way to get him from stopping to hit him and he fell and, like, his head has a big gash, he has a big skin tear on his arm, he’s bleeding, so he needs to be sent out,” said a caller.
The caller stated Millard was awake, walking around and breathing “normally” during the call.
The 911 caller also stated Millard “literally just got here a couple of days ago and since he’s been here, he’s been combative”.
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Millard later died at the hospital, according to the Richmond County Coroner’s Office.
After learning of Millard’s death, Barclay management reviewed video footage and saw an assault in which Hightower “struck Millard with a hand or fist, apparently causing Millard to fall just outside of room #314,” according to the incident reports.
According to arrest warrants, Hightower “did strike said victim with a closed fist, causing said victim to fall to the ground, where the victim’s head bounced off the floor resulting in said victim losing consciousness.”
Arrest warrants state Hightower’s actions caused Millard to sustain an intraparenchymal hemorrhage.
Deputies said they were told Hightower is no longer working at the facility and he was a “temp who was hired or placed through a contracted staffing agency, Consolidated Medical Staffing.”
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