The Associated Press
MURRIETA, Calif.- A 70-year-old mentally impaired man, unable to walk without assistance, was rescued from a sweltering garage by police who found him near a puddle of urine, authorities said Friday. His caretaker, his brother and another man were arrested.
The temperature was more than 100 degrees when police discovered Andrew James Young living in the garage July 20 with only a cot, fan and portable toilet, investigators said. Police Sgt. Ron Driscoll described the conditions as inhumane.
Young, who suffers from dementia and epilepsy, was treated for malnutrition and was in custody of adult protective services, Sgt. Sandra O’Donnell said Friday.
Young’s brother Russell Eugene Calvin Jr., 53, Russell Eugene Calvin III and in-home caretaker Lillie Mae Stewart, 41, have been charged with felony elder abuse. Police said they could not confirm the Calvins were father and son.
Stewart and Calvin Jr. posted bail. Calvin III remained jailed on a parole violation because weapons were found inside the house, Driscoll said. All three were scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
Russell Calvin Jr. and Stewart denied mistreating Young, saying he went in and out of the garage throughout the day because he enjoys it.
“I love my brother. I looked up to him. I would never hurt him,” Russell Calvin Jr. said.
Police, however, said Young couldn’t move without assistance and had been living in the garage full time. Officer Roy Vargas said Russell Calvin Jr. denied that an elderly man was living at the residence before Vargas found Young.
Murrieta is about 80 miles southeast of Los Angeles.