It happened in the 6000 block of Cargile Street in Riverdale, police said.
According to an arrest warrant, 46-year-old Jonathan Martin tied his mother’s hands to her bed or wheelchair and then left her alone. Channel 2s Tom Jones was in court as Magistrate Judge Betrice Scott read the warrant that detailed how that affected the victim.
“This prevented her from movement. Her doctor stated that he had not given any orders for her to be restrained in this or any other manner,” Scott said.
Martin’s mother was admitted to a hospital with injuries to both wrists. Police said the victim told them her son tied her up to a bed at night and then would leave her alone.
Court documents indicate that Martin told Adult Protection Services he did it to keep her from harming herself. But police said what he did jeopardized her health.
“Sir, do you have any other family here that is able to care for your mother?” Judge Scott asked a solemn Martin.
“No,” Martin replied. He now faces a charge of felony cruelty to a person 65 years of age or older.
“If you cant keep them or take care of them, let somebody else do it,” neighbor Teresa Bishop said. Bishop said she would often see the victim outside alone.
“She was just wondering the front yard. You know, just wondering for hours with no adult supervision basically. That is just unbelievable what people do,” she said.
The woman has been released from the hospital and is now in a nursing home. The judge set bail for Martin at $20,000 and ordered that he have no harassing or violent contact with his mother.
