Midwest City man accused of neglect after disabled adult found locked in room

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

A Midwest City man is facing a charge of neglect of a vulnerable adult after police said a 25-year-old nonverbal man was found locked inside a bedroom in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

According to an affidavit filed in Oklahoma County District Court, officers were called Feb. 25 to a home in the 300 block of West Kittyhawk Drive after a landlord entered the residence following a 24-hour notice to vacate.

The landlord reported hearing noise from a locked bedroom and, after opening the door, found a man inside who appeared to be in distress. She then contacted police.

Officers with the Midwest City Police Department said the man was nonverbal and living in poor conditions, with trash, old food and bottles of urine in the room. Investigators also reported that screws had been placed in the windows to prevent them from opening and that a hot cooking griddle was on the floor near a curtain.

The man was transported to SSM Health Midwest Hospital, where he was treated for dehydration and an abnormal EKG and later admitted to a behavioral health unit.

Police identified the resident as Charles Erwin Harding, 45, who was not at the scene. In a later phone call, Harding told investigators he had been away due to a family emergency and said the man was sometimes locked in the room for his own safety.

Officers later executed a search warrant at the home and recovered items linking Harding to the residence, along with prescription medications belonging to the victim.

Harding has been charged with neglect of a vulnerable adult and was not in custody at the time of the affidavit.

Harding was charged with neglect of a vulnerable adult on March 19. As of Monday, he was not in custody.