A 43-year-old Greenbrier man has been arrested on one count of abuse of a vulnerable person after allegedly choking a restrained minor while working at Conway Human Development Center, according to reports. The minor reportedly sustained bruising to the chest, scratches on the ear, and redness on the neck.
Attorney General Tim Griffin issued a statement announcing the arrest of Brad Ellison, as first reported by THV11. “Those entrusted with caring for vulnerable Arkansans have a responsibility to ensure their safety and well-being,” Griffin said. He added that abuse involving a child unable to protect himself is deeply troubling and said his office is committed to protecting vulnerable citizens and holding people who abuse positions of trust accountable.
The arrest adds to a string of recent cases involving staff at Arkansas human development centers. In July, Sam Bell, 22, of Gurdon was arrested after allegedly working as a CNA at Arkadelphia Human Development Center, where he reportedly struck a resident in the head repeatedly after the resident struck him first, causing injury, according to a statement detailed by Hope Prescott. Earlier this month, six former caregivers at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center pleaded guilty in connection with the death of a resident, as reported by NWA Online.
Scrutiny Already Surrounded the Conway Facility
Conway Human Development Center, where Ellison worked, is a state-run residential facility overseen by the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services branch of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, according to the Arkansas Times. A Disability Rights Arkansas review cited by the outlet found poor documentation, infrequent or inconsistent monitoring, outdated or incorrect diet orders, and a lack of meaningful oversight in the center's dietary and mealtime systems.
That same review documented 12 cases of malnutrition at the center between February 2023 and January 2025, and found that 32% of residents who died between February 2023 and February 2024 were underweight at the time of death. The outlet reported that residents suffered severe consequences, including emaciation, pressure wounds, unnecessary feeding tube placement, and dangerous medication interactions. A 2020 report noted the Conway center and one in Booneville had each been flagged five times for endangering clients through the use of physical restraints.
Federal Scrutiny Over Resident Safety
The U.S. Department of Justice has separately raised alarm over conditions at the facility. In a statement, the agency said information gathered through discovery led it to conclude residents faced an increasing and grave risk of harm while deficiencies went ignored, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The department added that children were particularly vulnerable, pointing to allegations of dangerous medication mismanagement and harmful, unnecessary restraints.
