Richmond caretaker arrested, accused of leaving patients

RICHMOND, Ky. (WTVQ) – Police in Richmond arrest a caregiver they say abandoned three vulnerable adults.

According to an arrest citation, Richmond police responded to Independent Opportunities group home on Jennifer Drive Saturday night after someone said calls to the home were not being returned and that the patients may not be capable of calling in the case of an emergency.

When officers arrived at the home, they say the vehicle belonging to the caretaker on duty, Thomas Lakes, was not there.

According to the citation, one of the patients answered the door and told officers he thought Lakes was still at the home.

After searching the home and the garage, police determined Lakes was not there.

Police contacted an Independent Opportunities crisis response worker and supervisor, who arrived at the home and told police the patients require constant care and should not be left alone.

Police say Lakes returned to the home about a half hour after they arrived.

According to police, Lakes told them even though he knew he should not have left the patients, he had to check on his sick daughter who was at his ex-girlfriend’s house.

The arrest citation says Lakes eventually admitted he went to the store to buy a pack of cigarettes then drove around and listened to music to clear his head.

When asked why he left, police say Lakes replied it was because he had to spend “48 hours in that hell hole,” referring to the group home.

Lakes was arrested and charged with knowingly abusing or neglecting an adult.