Caregiver Accused In Assault Allegedly Used Choke Collar On At-Risk Victim
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. – A caregiver accused of assaulting and kidnapping a 74-year-old man in Jefferson County has been arrested.
According to Jacki Kelley with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, on Tuesday at approximately 5:30 p.m. deputies responded to the 8000 block of Indiana Street for a disturbance call.
"A woman reported an elderly man with a hand injury asked her to call the police. The man was with a younger man who stated everything was okay because he was the elderly man's caregiver," Kelley said in a statement.
When deputies arrived they were met by the 75-year-old victim. He told them his caregiver, identified as Robert Lee Michael Bozarth, 21, had forced him out of his house and locked the door.
"The man had confronted Bozarth about not working all day and Bozarth became upset, taking the victims keys and cellphone and forcing him out the front door, locking it so he could not get back in his home," Kelley said.
The victim told deputies he attempted to get back in his home through a door on the side of the house but was met by Bozarth.
"The victim went around to a side door and was met there by Bozarth who slammed the door on the victim's hand, severely injuring it. The victim then walked down Indiana Street looking for someone to help him," Kelley said.
The victim told deputies that Bozarth got into his car and "pinned the victim against a barbed wire fence a short distance from the house." He then forced the victim into the car and went back to the victim's home and attempted to place a dog choke collar around the victim's wrist.
"He was in the process of applying a lock to the collar when he saw a deputy pull up in front of the house. Bozarth ran and was soon found in a basement closet in the residence," Kelley said.
Bozarth faces charges of first-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault, and theft from an at-risk adult. He is being held on a $500,000 bond.
