Jeremias Diego, 44 (LAPD) |
LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- A nursing assistant has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two patients at Providence Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills.
44-year-old Jeremias Diego has been charged with two counts of sexual battery and is being held on $40,000 bail.
According to police, Diego entered a 43-year-old woman's room around 4 a.m. on Sept. 17 to take her vital signs.
He removed some of her garments and touched her inappropriately under the bed covers, according to a news release from the LAPD.
The woman threw a tissue box to wake up her sister, who was sleeping nearby in the darkened room.
She and her sister then reported the incident to nurses, who in turn called police.
Police say administrators at Providence Holy Cross are cooperating fully with detectives.
They have provided information about another complaint against Diego by a female patient from the week prior.
Detectives are interviewing that woman and other possible witnesses.
Diego was born in the Philippines and lives in Thousand Oaks. He has worked at Holy Cross since April.
Previously, he worked part-time at the Los Robles Care Center in Ojai until August, when he quit.
The director of that facility was not aware of any similar reports of abuse.
Investigators believe that there may be additional victims.
Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Michael Brox of the Mission Crimes Unit at (818) 838-9902.
Anonymous tips can be made by calling Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most key pads) with a cell phone.
44-year-old Jeremias Diego has been charged with two counts of sexual battery and is being held on $40,000 bail.
According to police, Diego entered a 43-year-old woman's room around 4 a.m. on Sept. 17 to take her vital signs.
He removed some of her garments and touched her inappropriately under the bed covers, according to a news release from the LAPD.
The woman threw a tissue box to wake up her sister, who was sleeping nearby in the darkened room.
She and her sister then reported the incident to nurses, who in turn called police.
Police say administrators at Providence Holy Cross are cooperating fully with detectives.
They have provided information about another complaint against Diego by a female patient from the week prior.
Detectives are interviewing that woman and other possible witnesses.
Diego was born in the Philippines and lives in Thousand Oaks. He has worked at Holy Cross since April.
Previously, he worked part-time at the Los Robles Care Center in Ojai until August, when he quit.
The director of that facility was not aware of any similar reports of abuse.
Investigators believe that there may be additional victims.
Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Michael Brox of the Mission Crimes Unit at (818) 838-9902.
Anonymous tips can be made by calling Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most key pads) with a cell phone.
