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State and county agencies involved after 14 residents removed from Belle Reve, officials say
Summary
Commissioners said Area Agency on Aging staff and emergency responders removed about 14 people from Belle Reve after an anonymous complaint; a solicitor said a state‑level review is ongoing and declined to discuss details. Residents are being cared for, the commission said.
At a Feb. 18 Pike County Commissioners meeting, county officials said Area Agency on Aging staff and emergency responders removed about 14 residents from a care site known in the transcript as "Belle Reve" after an anonymous complaint, and that state authorities are now involved.
The solicitor, identified in the meeting as the county solicitor, told the commissioners that Area Agency on Aging staff observed conditions that led them to call emergency services and that "approximately 14 people were removed at that point," adding that "all 14 were properly cared for." The solicitor said the matter remains under investigation and declined to discuss further details while state and agency reviews continue.
The chair of the commission said that decisions to move residents were made by medical personnel on scene, not by county employees, and that the county's role was responsive: "Those individuals are safe, and being cared for," the chair said. The chair also said the county responded as required and that family sensitivities limit what officials can discuss publicly.
Why it matters: the removal of residents from a licensed or residential care site and subsequent state involvement typically trigger reviews by regulatory agencies and can lead to further action by the district attorney or state regulators. At the meeting, the solicitor said he would consult with the district attorney to determine whether criminal investigation is appropriate.
What officials said next: commissioners repeatedly emphasized that they learned of the matter through an anonymous complaint and that Area Agency on Aging initiated the response. No formal legal findings or charges were announced at the meeting.
The county did not provide additional case details at the meeting and said it would defer to Area Agency on Aging and state authorities for further updates. The commission asked that privacy and family considerations be respected while the review is underway.
