HPD records: Woman filmed hitting 94-year-old in custody
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A woman accused of assaulting an elderly, disabled woman in Memorial Village is now in police custody, according to HPD records.
Police say a tip from an alert eyewitness led to the arrest.
Brenda Floyd was arrested Friday morning in the 7200 block of Fulton. Police say she had been hiding out at the property, operated by New Beginnings Fellowship. Officers were called to the area around 2:30am by a resident who recognized Floyd from a picture and description released previously by Crimestoppers.
"It must have been about a week now," said resident Howard Wearstler.
He says Floyd had been staying at the property with someone who identified her as a friend.
Investigators say Floyd had been a caregiver for 94-year-old Dorothy Bratten for about three years. According to detectives, her son became suspicious about mysterious bruises on his mother, so he set up a surveillance camera which captured the disturbing video on New Year's Day. The video appears to be Floyd repeatedly striking Bratten.
Police say Floyd disappeared after learning of the video.
Wearstler has seen the alleged beating video and says he is glad one of his neighbors turned Floyd in.
"It takes a lot of guts for a woman to do something to an elderly lady like that," he said.
Police say the tipster also recognized a white Lexus belonging to Floyd. Bratten's family previously gave the vehicle to Floyd to help her get to and from Bratten's home, authorities said.
Floyd was set to appear in probable cause court but had an unspecified type of medical issue which prevented her appearance. She will be back in court on Monday to face a charge of injury to an elderly person.
Bratten's family says they've seen an outpouring of support since this story first broke. They also said they don't wish something like this on anyone.
Bratten's son says Floyd "messed up" several families lives. Police say Dorothy Bratten is okay despite the attacks.
