NBC Miami
December 8, 2013
A Broward, Fla., man is facing a sexual battery charge after he raped a physically disabled woman at a Lauderdale Lakes hospital where they were both patients, authorities said.
Charles Tarver, 33, was arrested Wednesday at Florida Medical Center at 5000 W. Oakland Park Boulevard, according to a Broward Sheriff’s Office report obtained by the Sun-Sentinel.
Jail records showed Tarver was being held Saturday on $50,000 bond. It was unknown whether he has an attorney.
According to the BSO report, Tarver walked into the woman’s room at the hospital without her consent and groped her before raping her. The woman, who has a handicap that makes her unable to walk, couldn’t fight Tarver off, the BSO said.
Neither knew each other, according to the report.
“The safety and security of our patients is a top priority. As soon as we became aware of this allegation, it was immediately reported and we are fully cooperating with the authorities,” Hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Evans said in a statement. “We are committed to providing quality care for all of our patients.”