Saw something that really disturbed me tonight

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i was at the mall shopping with some friends this evening and witnessed something that looking back now, i wish i had stopped and said something.

there was a girl shopping with a group of guys swarming around her. at first, i didnt think anything of it, until one of them said hello to me. i realized he was mentally challenged. this girl was taking them out from a group home or something and decided to use them as clothes racks to hold her items at express.

the girl was in front of me in line. she payed and walked out with 4 guys, who were all presumably under her care, as they were noticeably handicapped. i assume she was a hab tech or cna or something equal to that.

i payed for my items and walked out to see the girl and her residents standing in the aisle. she loudly barked to one of them "tie my shoe". he obidiently bent down and attemped to tie her shoe while she obnioxiously stood there and smacker her gum and twirled her hair. when it took him longer than she liked, she kicked him in the jaw and said "get up, retard." she then pointed to another one of the guys and said "you, tie my shoe". he then bent down and tied her shoe. they walked away, each one carrying some of her shopping bags while she continued talking on her cell phone. my friends and i followed a few feet behind. she began huffing loudly when they asked her to stop for dinner. she was taking advantage of these men. i assume she was supposed to be taking them on an outing. she was more than capable to bend down and tie her shoes and carry her items.

it made me want to cry. but i was not going to start a fight with this girl in the middle of the mall and now i wish i would have. i saw them in the parking lot getting into a big van and i wondered where they were going and how much longer they would have to deal with this mean girl.

i know i shouldnt judge because i dont know the whole story. but these men were visibly handicapped and she was so disgusting to them. i am mad at myself for not saying something.

would you have?

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Ugh, that is disgusting....too bad her boss or the police wouldn't have seen that!!! That is abuse. She has no business careing for and human being!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Peds.

One option... Call the police with the license plate number and a report of what you witnessed. Kicking someone in the jaw is a form of assault... and if that's pushing it, this isn't: the entirety of what you witnessed was a form of abuse and should be reported. They could take your statement and follow up on it.

Public confrontation isn't for everyone, I don't want you to beat yourself up... just be aware that there are other options for pursuing situations such as this.

Peace.

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One option... Call the police with the license plate number and a report of what you witnessed. Kicking someone in the jaw is a form of assault... and if that's pushing it, this isn't: the entirety of what you witnessed was a form of abuse and should be reported. They could take your statement and follow up on it.

Public confrontation isn't for everyone, I don't want you to beat yourself up... just be aware that there are other options for pursuing situations such as this.

Peace.

Ditto that. Another option is to call the appropriate state agency with license plate, time, date and location, and description of the woman. If she does that in a public place, imagine what she does with no witnesses.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I agree, it would be important to report this. Getting the license plate would have been quick thinking. You definately witnessed abuse. That's horrible.

Do you know of a nearby group home? These people generally go on outings nearby, maybe you can track them down?

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Did you notice the name of the facility on the van?

I would absolutely report her, and the stores they were in. Perhaps the clerks can verify your story.

That is vicious.

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

it was a plain white van. i can give a really accurate description of the girl as well as the time i purchased my dress at express since i didnt throw the receipt away.

i live in raleigh. its huge. theres a few group homes i know of but i dont know which one because she had on street clothes, a very expensive ed hardy sweatsuit to be exact. i guess i could call social services to see if there is someone there they knew of taking people on an outing??

i think i was so appalled i just stood there like a dummy. i really feel like a jerk for not confronting her.

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Specializes in PICU/NICU.

My Goodness!! I hope this was some sort of a bad psychology experiment/candid camera event and these were just actors for a dateline show---- I cannot believe someone would actually treat people this way!! DISGUSTING!!

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This is definitely an abuse issue related to vulnerable adults. You need to make every effort to report this. I am thinking about ways you can treat this as I work within the social service field currently and have worked with DD in the past. First of all, you need to be aware of the implications to yourself: Are you a mandated reporter? This is a vulnerable adult issue and I do not mean to scare you but, you should have reported this right away. Call your county human service department and explain the incident. Tell them you did not get a name on the vehicle or the license plate number but all of the other information you can. If they say they cannot help you with this particular problem, tell them you need to be pointed in a direction where someone can. This evil woman needs to be taken out. She obviously cannot handle herself in public...I hate to think what happens behind "closed" doors. You have the description of the assailant and the victims. Please, for their safety, go forward with this. They do not deserve to be treated like this at all.

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i am going to call social services on monday. hopefully they can help me in the right direction. my two friends were with me and they can vouch for her behavior too.

sad to think that there are even people like her out there.

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I am saddened that NO ONE did anything. As another poster stated, it could have been people from a local group home. You could contact your areas board for MRDD and report the incident. They may be able to follow up on this. I am the only "normal" sibling out of 4 of us (for various reasons) and that very easily could have been one of my brothers or my sister they were treating that way. Those snotty girls are just a traffic accident or an illness from being in the same condition!!! Can you tell I'm p###ed?? (not at you flightnurse! The girls in your post)

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You could always try and contact security at the mall and see if they have video of the incident. Sometimes they record the videos for evidence of shoplifters. Just a thought.

They also may have recorded the parking lot so you could get a license plate #.

I do hope that they are able to find this girl. She has no business taking care of these people and she should be punished for this.

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