Caretaker caught on video abusing man in wheelchair, Hillsborough deputies say

TAMPA — A 19-year-old caretaker was arrested Wednesday after investigators say he beat an 88-year-old man in his care.

Jonah Delgado faces charges of abuse of an elderly or disabled adult and battery.

According to a news release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Delgado had been hired as an at-home caretaker for a man who required full-time care for basic needs.

But on Aug. 5, a home surveillance camera recorded Delgado physically and verbally attacking the man in his charge. The victim’s identity wasnot been released by the Sheriff’s Office.

In a graphic, minute-long excerpt of the footage posted on Youtube on Thursday, a frail, partially dressed man is seen cowering and groaning as Delgado struggles to move him from a hospital bed to a wheelchair.

The teen caretaker appears to be listening to music while he attempts to clean the man, pulling him in and out of the chair and slapping him in the face, head and stomach as the man becomes entangled in Delgado’s earbud cords, yanking them from his ears.

Then, Delgado is heard yelling at the man to get up, slapping him and saying, “You’re a f--king idiot. Like really, how stupid are you.”

Later, investigators said Delgado pushed the victim into the bed and punched him in the stomach three times. Detectives worked quickly to obtain an arrest warrant for Delgado, who was taken into custody around midnight Wednesday by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

In a written statement, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister called Delgado’s actions, “deplorable, unacceptable and disturbing.”

“Delgado was trusted to take care of this man and to protect him,” the Sheriff’s office said. “He not only broke this trust but put this man in direct danger with his actions.”