Cops: Group home worker seen in video dragging woman by hair

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- An employee at a group home for the intellectually disabled is facing some serious allegations.

A video clip shows an employee physically abusing a woman who lives at Options Unlimited in East Hartford.

The Department of Developmental Services says the DVD was delivered to them anonymously and now several agencies are investigating.

In the 40 years he's been in the business, the Commissioner of the Department of Developmental Service says he's never seen something like this. A heinous crime against a person who in no possible way could defend herself.

It's heartbreaking for many who've seen the video clip recorded inside the East Hartford group home.

"I can not even imagine a person doing this to a human being," said Terrence Macy, "let alone a person who has no way to defend themselves."

The video clip shows an employee for Options Unlimited dragging a resident with severe intellectual disabilities by her hair.

"She requires significant support, feeding, dressing," Macy said.

Macy, Department of Developmental Services Commissioner, says as soon as his office and the group home received the copies they called police.

The employee, who's been working at the group home for at least five years has been removed.

"The house had some other issues at one point and they installed video equipment to monitor for safety of persons who live there," Macy said.

Options Unlimited has six homes in the state with a small number of people in each home. News 8 went to the main office in Bloomfield to get a comment.

"So, you won't say anything on camera about it," News 8's Erin Logan asked.

"We prefer not to."

They did issue a statement saying in part, "we are deeply saddened and appalled by this incident. As soon as we became aware of it, we took prompt action and placed the employee on unpaid administrative leave."

DDS wants to know who shot the video. They believe it was as far back as April. They say that person will also be in trouble for not immediately reporting the abuse.