City code enforcement officials shut down an elder care facility Wednesday after temperatures inside reached 103 degrees and five victims were hospitalized. Its owner faces several counts of abuse and endangerment.
TPD arrests 71yo Cynthia Hermann for 5 cts of Vulnerable Adult Abuse & 9 cts of endangerment. Hermann operated a care home that had no AC w/ 9 residents. Great teamwork by @TucsonFirePIO , @AZDHS , Adult Protective Serves & @cityoftucson Code Enforcement https://t.co/rXQNvGfJwy pic.twitter.com/nIeZnMDXVZ
— Tucson Police Dept (@Tucson_Police) July 26, 2018
According to Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus, temperatures were 103 degrees inside Angelique's Adult Care Homes, 501 E. 8th Street.
Nine residents, including the five who were hospitalized, had been without air conditioning since Saturday. They ranged in age from 64 to 86. Four residents were moved to other facilities. A nurse of one of the victims called police to report the conditions there.
The owner, 71-year-old Cynthia Hermann, faces five counts of vulnerable adult abuse and nine counts of endangerment. She was booked into Pima County Jail.
According to City of Tucson Environmental and General Services spokeswoman Cristina Polsgrove, the air conditioner will need to be replaced and proper living conditions met before the facility to reopen.
