Group home in Wilmington being investigated for abuse and neglect

Published: Nov. 2, 2011 at 6:53 PM EDT|Updated: Nov. 4, 2011 at 5:27 PM EDT
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NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - Skill Creations Incorporated Coastal House in Wilmington is being investigated for accusations of abuse and neglect.

According to Detective Michael Overton with the Wilmington Police Department, his agency received the case from New Hanover County's Department of Social Services. Police have now passed their investigation on to the DA's office and the State Division of Facility Services.

According to an incident report, some of the abuse and neglect accusations happened as far back as July 2011.

Paul Hackmann, the CEO of Skill Creations Incorporated which is based out of Goldsboro, NC, said it's been a rough couple of months for the facility in Wilmington, which is off Lake Shore Drive.

He said there was an incident involving one client where there was report of abuse.

According to Hackmann, after they investigated the claim they found the client had been neglected and a couple of employees were fired.

Hackmann said several other employees were also fired for failing drug screenings.

In his line of work, Hackmann said anyone can call Raleigh and make an anonymous complaint about a living facility. He believes the employees who were fired are behind all the complaints
being made.

He said the company now tries to have someone from the cooperate office at the facility in Wilmington once a week.

A dozen mentally disabled adults stay at the facility in Wilmington. There are two houses next two each other and each house has six clients. SCI Coastal House has been opened in Wilmington since 1990. There are 30 full time employees.

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