A Howard County grand jury Wednesday indicted a former caregiver at a home for the developmentally disabled on charges he broke the jaw of one resident and two fingers of another.
Michael Iniobong Udom, 36, of Woodlawn, is accused of assaulting the residents last spring while working as a counselor in a home on Our Time Lane.
The home is one of 48 operated by Arc of Howard County, a nonprofit that offers services to individuals with cognitive and developmental disabilities.
Howard County police began their investigation in July when they received a report from Arc, according to the charging document.
“We reported them to the Howard County Police when the incidents became reportable by our regulations,” said Kari Ebeling, an Arc spokeswoman.
Udom worked for Arc from September 2005 until July 2006, Ebeling said. She could not discuss his separation from the Arc, citing the organization?s privacy policy regarding personnel, but said, “I?m not saying he wasn?t let go.”
Last March, a resident who was “covered in blood and bleeding profusely” from the mouth ? after Udom had fed him breakfast ? was treated for a broken jaw at Howard County General Hospital, according to charging documents.
Udom told police he was trying to “scoop” drywall from the resident?s mouth. Later, he admitted to dragging the resident into the bathroom by his jaw.
Udom told police he has days where he is “short-tempered.”
In April, one of Udom?s co-workers was preparing breakfast for a resident when he heard a scream from the bathroom. The resident returned from the bathroom and ate his breakfast but was later treated for two broken fingers at the Howard hospital.
Udom is charged with two counts of vulnerable-adult abuse resulting in physical injury, two counts of vulnerable-adult abuse by a custodian, two counts of second-degree assault and reckless endangerment.
He is being held in Howard County Detention Center without bond. A court date has not yet been set.
