Detectives Arrest Nursing Home Worker for Stealing from Patients

Washington County Sheriff's Office, Jun 05, 2008

Summary of Incident:
Sheriff’s Detectives concluded an investigation into ongoing thefts at Regency Park Assisted Living, with the arrest of a woman working at the nursing home. She was caught on a hidden camera taking money out of a purse in a resident’s room.

Details of Incident:
Sheriff’s Detectives arrested 23-year-old Quanecka Thompson for several counts of Criminal Mistreatment and Theft. At the request of the management of Regency Park Assisted Living, detectives have been conducting an investigation into several thefts that had occurred in their facility.

The facility is located at 8300 SW Barnes Road in urban Washington County near the City of Portland. This area is within the Enhanced Sheriff’s Patrol District (ESPD). This district allows the residents to maintain a law enforcement presence similar to that in a city, while living in unincorporated Washington County. The Sheriff’s Office provides law enforcement services to this special district, and this investigation was made possible due to the ESPD.

Detectives decided to take a proactive approach to the thefts, and with the permission of one of the residents, they set up a hidden camera in the room. A purse with cash inside belonging to the Sheriff’s Office was placed in the resident’s room with the camera.

Within three days of placing the camera in the room, detectives report that they had video taped a suspect taking money out of the purse. Detectives set up the purse a second time, and again the same suspect, Ms. Thompson stole money from the purse.

This is an excellent example of law enforcement and the community working together to keep our citizens safe. The cooperation of the Regency Park Assisted Living management team’s concern for their residents was evident based on their cooperation throughout the investigation.