Ex-PCH worker accused of sexual misconduct
Phoenix Police say they have arrested a now-former worker of Phoenix Children’s Hospital for alleged sexual misconduct, after a series of cybertips prompted an investigation. FOX 10’s Nicole Krasean reports.
PHOENIX – Court documents state that a man who once worked at Phoenix Children’s Hospital is accused of violating laws related to sexual misconduct.
Big picture view:
Per the documents, 31-year-old Jaydeep Patel is accused of nine counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, which is a felonious offense.
The documents state that Patel was arrested at his home in Phoenix on July 17.
Dig deeper:
Investigators state that while Patel claimed to be a security officer at a hospital, it was subsequently revealed that at the time of his arrest, he worked as a behavior health technician at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
The investigation into Patel began when a series of tips were submitted online regarding a social media profile that possesses Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). Investigators said the tips came from an Internet Service Provider that is “known for instant messaging on mobile profiles to include chat exchanges and the sharing of images and videos,” and that the tips involved one of their subscriber profiles.
Court documents also included transcripts of messages that Patel allegedly sent, the contents of which were graphic.
In an interview that was conducted after Patel was read his Miranda rights, investigators said they asked Patel about his social media use, and mentioned Instagram and TikTok.
“Patel denied using Kik,” read a portion of the court documents. “When asked to provide access to his phone to verify there was no Kik account, Patel asked for an attorney.”
The documents we received also included graphic descriptions of nine videos that officials allege contain CSAM.
Hospital officials respond
On the afternoon of July 21, we received a statement from Phoenix Children’s Hospital regarding the matter. It reads:
“The safety of our patients and their families is our top priority. In accordance with our policies, we conduct thorough background checks during the pre-employment screening process and on regular intervals for current employees. This individual is no longer employed with us, and we are in full cooperation with law enforcement officials.”
Local perspective:
Darla Hyche said news of Patel’s arrest left her with a ton of questions.
“Being that my son goes there so much and he’s there without me, especially when he’s on the Behavioral Unit, you know, parents cannot be there,” said Hyche. “We don’t see what goes on. We see, you know, how they react to us and talk to us to our face, but we don’t know what’s going on behind those doors.”
Hyche said she does not want to throw Phoenix Children’s Hospital under bus as she has taken her kids there for years, and it remains her main option for her son’s health care needs.
“I’m gonna be going there, but you know, I’m gonna be looking and listening more, my eyes open more, asking around, you know, getting more recommendations, I guess. Learning more about the doctors,” said Hyche.
What’s next:
A judge has set a cash-only appearance bond of $100,000 for Patel, and should he make bond, he will be subjected to a number of restrictions, including electronic monitoring, curfew restrictions, and a no-exceptions ban on contacting minors. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 28.
Crime and Public SafetyPhoenixNews