By the Daily Post staff
Palo Alto police this morning (June 13) arrested a nursing assistant at Webster House Medical Center on suspicion of sexually assaulting a female patient at the care facility.
The investigation began Monday when an employee of Webster House, at 437 Webster St., called police to report that a patient has said she was sexually assaulted by a nursing assistant, according to police. The 24-hour nursing and supportive care facility is used by patients who need short and long term rehabilitation.
The nursing assistant had entered the victim’s room on Sunday (June 9) to check on the patient, police said. The patient, who is in her 70s, was recovering from surgery and required assistance. During the encounter, the nursing assistant drew the privacy curtains around the bed and sexually assaulted her, according to police.
Detectives investigated and obtained a warrant for the suspect’s arrest. Police arrested Jeremias Frago-Rodriguez, 63, of East Palo Alto. He was booked at the Santa Clara County Main Jail for rape, sexual penetration, oral copulation, sexual battery (all felonies), and elder abuse (misdemeanor).
Police said they aren’t aware of any other victims in this case.
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Thank you for alerting us to him. My mother is in another nursing facility, and I’ve worried that she might have been mistreated at times. She’s suffering from Alzheimer’s dementia, so she wouldn’t be reliable as a witness against anyone who was mistreating her. I try to spend as much time as possible with her, but I can’t be there 24/7. This situation is frustrating, sad and exhausting all at the same time.