Police,DHS investigate group homes

Brandon Twp.- When police responded to the Walnut Hill Adult Foster Care home on Seymour Lake Road for the death investigation of a resident, they ultimately found nothing criminal. But they did find enough to be disturbed about, including a man living at the residence who is a registered sex offender.
‘While there may not be any pending criminal charges, the Sheriff’s Office cooperates with state agencies to aggressively investigate cases involving those who are unable to protect themselves,? said Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Mike Searing of the Brandon substation.
According to police reports, Brandon deputies and Detective Chris Pacholski responded to the home on Oct. 14 after the sole employee working at the time found the 44-year-old man, who was schizophrenic, dead. The man, she said, had been suffering flu-like symptoms for a few days. No medical treatment had been sought. When she checked on him after lunch, she found him deceased. Police observed the man lying in his own vomit, with white foam in and around his mouth. An autopsy determined the man died of a bowel obstruction, gastric distention, and aspiration of vomit. Police say the man had been treated for bowel obstructions in the past.
The owner of the foster care home could not provide training records nor CPR or first aid cards for the employee who had been caring for the man. Medications were found unsecured in a Tupperware container in the closet and additional investigation found the homeowner’s son, who police say was residing there, is on the registered sex offender list.
According to police reports, adult protective services responded and told the home’s owner to remove the sex offender, he was not permitted to be there. Searing said the Department of Human Services adult foster care licensing division, is investigating possible licensing violations. DHS could not be reached for comment at press time.
The owner of the Walnut Hill AFC home refused comment when contacted.
Walnut Hill is one of about 20 group homes in Brandon Township and not the only one with questionable practices. While the Seymour Lake home will not face criminal charges, a warrant has been issued for a suspect involved in abuse at the Granger Home on Granger Road. In that case, a 26-year-old mentally and physically disabled resident of the home was found with severe bruising to his inner thighs from the suspect employee, who was later fired. Fingerprints are visible in the bruising. The warrant seeks to charge the suspect with vulnerable adult abuse, third degree.
Searing said they are also investigating alleged abuse at another home in the township. He is unable to release further information at this time.
‘It highlights the importance of good investigation on people caring for individuals with special needs and proper licensing and background checks,? Searing said. ‘Be careful who you’re hiring.?

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