CLERMONT, Florida—A man was arrested Saturday for neglect of an elderly disabled person after he left his wheelchair-bound grandmother without help in deplorable conditions, according to an arrest affidavit.
Michael Dale Plant’s grandmother called the Lake County Sheriff’s Office twice Saturday morning and reported Plant had not come home the night before. The woman, who suffers from dementia and recently been released from the hospital, told LCSO she feared something may have happened to Plant responder her home. Deputies made entry into her home due to her being immobile and in a wheelchair, the affidavit states.
When a deputy entered the home, “I was hit with the foul odor of animal urine and the smell of feces. I observed (the victim) in a wheelchair in the center of the living room with her right arm in a black medical arm sling,” the arrested deputy noted in the affidavit.
The victim requested the deputy pick up a pill bottle that was on the ground because she was unable to retrieve it and had been pushing it around with her foot all morning, according to the affidavit.
The victim said Plant had not come home the night before and she did not have anyone to help her use the bathroom, shower, change her clothes or make food. LCSO attempted to call Plant, but he did not answer, and the deputy was unable to leave a message, according to the affidavit.
“While in the residence, I observed all the rooms in the residence to be cluttered with dirt, dust, rotten food, spider webs, spiders, cockroaches, ants, maggots and bedbugs. The kitchen sink was filled with dirty dishes, however, there was running water. Upon opening the fridge, many cockroaches scurried out of food dishes and onto the floor. While looking in (the victim’s) bedroom, I observed feces on her sheets, spider webs and spiders all over her bed and bedside furniture as well as animal feces on the floor,” the deputy stated.
Plant arrived at the home while LCSO was on scene and said his grandmother had fallen and been in the hospital and later rehab before she was released to go back home. Plant said he called his grandmother and told her he would not be late but did not come home because he drank too much. Plant admitted he had not helped her change her clothes or shower since she had been released from rehab. He also said he knew the living conditions were bad, but they were much worse before his grandmother was released.
LCSO notified the Department of Children and Families and three goats, and three cats were removed from the residence by Lake County Animal Control.
Plant was placed under arrest and transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was released on $2,000 bond.
