AHRC workers charged with assault on disabled woman

Two female employees of a Nassau organization for those with learning and other disabilities were arrested Tuesday, and charged with assaulting a 53-year-old disabled woman in their charge, police said.

Rose McLean, 47, of East 46 Street, Brooklyn, and Hopie Robinson, 37, of West Lane, Medford, were charged with third degree assault and endangering the welfare of a physically disabled person.

Nassau police said the assault took place Sept. 12 in Plainview, while McLean and Robinson were employees of the AHRC of Nassau at 980 Washington Avenue.

Nassau police said the victim, a resident of the AHRC facility there, suffered minor injuries.

The AHRC of Nassau, with a staff of about 1,800, operates various support programs for about 2,400 disabled people in Nassau County.

Mary McNamara, a spokeswoman for the Nassau AHRC, said when the AHRC administration became aware of the allegation, police were notified.

"We brought it to them and encouraged their investigation," McNamara said. "We take these things very seriously." Both McLean and Robinson were initially suspended and later discharged, she said.

McNamara declined to give additional details on the nature of the alleged assault or the condition of the victim.

Neither McLean nor Robinson could be reached.

McLean and Robinson surrendered themselves to detectives Tuesday at the Second Precinct in Woodbury, police said. They were released on an appearance ticket returnable to First District Court, Hempstead, on Oct. 22.