Former Health Central worker arrested on abuse charge

OCOEE -- Personnel from Orange County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit arrested Roger Lea Scherer, a former nurse assistant for Health Central Hospital, June 24 in Ocoee.

According to a release from the Office of Attorney General Pam Bondi, Scherer faces a count of abuse of a disabled adult, a third-degree felony that could result in five years in prison and as much as $5,000 in fines.

Reports said Scherer punched a 68-year-old female patient believed to have dementia in the left side of the chest with a closed fist Dec. 19, after the patient -- who suffers from a mental disease that can result in lost limb control -- hit Scherer with flailing arms amid a diaper change. Peter Martinez, an investigator with the Office of the Attorney General, conducted the investigation based on a Department of Children and Families Adult Protective Services Abuse Hotline report.

A witness conducting clinical work Dec. 19 at Health Central Hospital told Martinez she had been helping Scherer with the diaper change when the patient struck Scherer, who punched back "pretty hard." Scherer proceeded to thank her for understanding what happened, she said.

The witness reported the incident to officials and signed a written statement.

"The safety and security of our patients is our top priority," said Desmond Jordon, Orlando Health media relations and public affairs manager. "As soon as we became aware of this allegation, the former employee was placed on leave. We conducted an investigation, and the employee in question was subsequently terminated. We then submitted information regarding this matter to the Florida Department of Health. Due to Orlando Health policies, no further information is available."

Scherer said he had been working a flexible shift of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. that whole week, during which he became familiar with the patient and understood her flailing bore no intent.

Scherer said he did not remember striking the patient but heard the patient scream and assumed something had happened.

The State Attorney's Office for the Ninth Judicial Circuit will prosecute in this case.

Contact Zak Kerr at [email protected].