Family: Elder Abuse Suspect Wrongly Accused

By Dan Rubin, KSEE24 News

August 6, 2012 Updated Aug 6, 2012 at 6:18 PM PDT

Clovis police arrested a woman they say neglected an elderly man. That man's family says it's all a big misunderstanding.

The incident happened last Saturday at a Walmart on Shaw Avenue. Someone saw 101-year-old Ray Messer sitting alone in a car.

They called 9-1-1 because they feared for his safety. Police took Messer to the hospital where he was admitted and released.

Tina Johnson was arrested for felony elder abuse, but Messer's daughter has come to the caregiver's defense.

She says her father was never in any danger and that he loves Tina Johnson like she was his own family. The District Attorney's Office is now reviewing the case.

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