2 local nursing home workers accused of abusing 89-year-old man with dementia

SOUTH FAYETTE, Pa. — “Watching that video… It’s just absolutely unbelievable that someone could do that type of crime to an elderly person,” Lt John Leininger told Channel 11.

Lt. John Leininger with the South Fayette Police Department saw video from an 89-year-old man’s room at Celebration Villa of Lakemont Farms.

He told Channel 11, the video showed two employees, LaMont Deonta Mitchell, 29, of Pittsburgh, and Joseph Dexter Love, 28, of Pittsburgh, assaulting the elderly man, which kicked on the camera’s sensor to start recording.

“One of the actors is seen making physical contact with his hand to the victim’s face. And the second individual comes into the room later on, and is seen dragging that victim to the ground,” he added.

According to the criminal complaint, the video shows the two employees antagonizing the man, and Joseph smacking the victim on the top of his head.

Then, police say Lamont grabs the elderly man, throws him onto the ground, and drags him to the door.

“It’s absolutely disgusting and repulsive behavior,” Lt Leininger said.

When the incident was reported to the home’s director, investigators say he called police.

Channel 11 has also learned that the elderly man has dementia.

“We don’t tolerate this type of crime in our community, and we do everything within our power with the assistance from the District Attorney’s office to hold these people accountable for these crimes,” Lt. Leininger said.

When we went to ask the facility director about the incident, we were asked to leave the property. We also reached out to the parent company, which provided this statement:

“Last month, an allegation of misconduct involving two employees at one of our communities was reported to our management team. We took immediate action, including terminating both employees that same day and promptly reporting the incident to our licensing authorities and local law enforcement. We have fully cooperated with the investigation at every step. Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our residents.”

The two men are charged with misdemeanors.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW