CASSELBERRY, Fla. – In Central Florida, a caregiver is facing legal trouble after authorities reported he abandoned a developmentally disabled man in a park during inclement weather, opting instead to stay in his vehicle and smoke marijuana.
According to a police report from Casselberry, staff at a nearby senior center became concerned when they noticed the man was frequently left unattended by his caregiver, Erickson Daniley, at Secret Lake Park.
Witnesses from the senior center recounted that they initially saw the caregiver and the man together at the facility. However, after noticing prolonged periods of neglect, they asked the duo to leave. The staff later observed the man alone under a park pavilion, prompting them to alert the authorities due to suspected neglect.
Upon arrival, officers discovered the man by himself under the pavilion while Daniley was inside a nearby car, allegedly smoking marijuana.
The man informed the police that he was unharmed physically but expressed a desire for Daniley to refrain from smoking and vaping in his presence, as per the police report.
Investigators revealed that Daniley claimed affiliation with Savana Inc., the facility responsible for the man’s care. When News 6 reached out for comments regarding the incident, a supervisor at the company’s listed address clarified that Daniley was employed through a third-party agency.
However, when contacted by phone, that agency denied employing Daniley and said he worked directly for Savana Inc.
Further questions about how the company plans to ensure proper supervision and care were not immediately answered. A Savana Supervisor News 6 spoke with said she would need to speak with her supervisor before commenting further.
Daniley is facing charges of neglect of an elderly or disabled adult.
The police report also noted that family members recently observed significant behavioral changes in the disabled man, including difficulty sleeping and attempts to inhale rubber gloves.
Court records show Daniley is scheduled to appear in court next month.
Officials with both companies had not provided additional comment as of Friday.
