Worker at state-owned nursing home admitted to slapping patient, SLED reported

The S.C. Law Enforcement Division arrested a worker at a Columbia nursing home after she reportedly confessed to physically abusing a patient, officials reported.

Laquita S. McReynolds, 25, of Columbia was charged with physical abuse of a vulnerable adult Wednesday, according to a news release from SLED.

If convicted on the felony charge, McReynolds could face up to five years in prison, the release stated.

SLED reported it investigated a March 7 incident at the state-owned C.M. Tucker Nursing Care Facility, 2200 Harden St.

A witness reported he or she saw a certified nurse’s assistant strike a victim in the face with an open hand several times, the release stated.

The witness then reported it to the facility, which then turned the information over to SLED.

When investigators interviewed McReynolds, she reportedly confessed to the incident in a voluntary written statement, the arrest warrant stated.

McReynolds was booked into Alvin S. Glenn Glenn Detention Center Wednesday.

This story was originally published December 14, 2016 at 2:02 PM with the headline "Worker at state-owned nursing home admitted to slapping patient, SLED reported."