Coward says the alleged attack took place two days ago, Monday morning around 7:30 a.m., when he was told to wake up, and when he didn’t immediately move he said, after words were exchanged, a guard from the Allied Universal company, which has a multitude of local security contracts, pepper sprayed him in the face. Coward says his eyes still burn two days later, his face still feels heat and that his already poor vision has gotten blurrier and hurts when he looks at the bright sky too long.
“Hopefully, I’m going to be ok,” he said, though still feeling traumatized at what allegedly happened.
Our Town Reno contacted Volunteers of America which coordinates the shelter’s operations, but their phone number does not answer and says their voice mail is unattended to.
Our Town Reno then received an email from Linda Grace, the VOA Regional Development Officer, stating the accused security guard would no longer work at the site.
“VOA’s top priority is the health and safety of our guests, residents, and staff The incident that occurred early on December 21, 2020, at the shelter on 4th street was immediately brought to the attention of VOA management,” Grace wrote in her statement.
”VOA immediately reported the incident through proper channels to the City of Reno, as they oversee both VOA’s contract and Allied Security. The police were called, and VOA asked that the security guard involved in the incident be immediately removed from service at the shelter, and any other VOA locations. VOA has been assured that the security guard in question will not be returning to our program site. Volunteers of America-NCNN serves close to 1,000 individuals every day through a variety of programs VOA cares for people who feel abandoned, who have given up all hope. We care for men struggling with homelessness, veterans, low-income seniors, the working poor, families, and individuals suffering from mental health issues. Our first priority is the health and safety of our guests.”
Later Wednesday, the Corporate PR Manager for Allied Universal Security Services, Vanessa Showalter, based in Santa Cruz, also sent us an email saying the accused guard had been suspended. “ We are aware of an incident that occurred between one of our security professionals and an individual,” the emailed statement said. “The security professional involved was suspended pending an investigation. Our security professionals complete on-going training to help ensure that we uphold top security standards in order to serve, secure and care for the people and businesses of our communities. Since this is an on-going investigation, we are unable to comment further at this time.”
Coward said the same security guard had harassed him the previous day before the alleged pepper spray attack, and when seeing him again still in bed Monday morning, allegedly said “Oh, it’s you again.” Coward says he can barely move, having suffered three massive strokes over the past 15 years, and so it’s impossible for him to react quickly. “First he was being nasty and aggressive, and then next thing you know I get pepper sprayed in the face,” he remembers.
Coward said he’s had a very difficult 2020 already, with his Social Security benefits having stopped for several months, until he got help from a friend and a lawyer. He says he started getting his $800 a month again recently but that it’s not enough to afford stable shelter.
A former truck driver, Coward says he’s been more or less homeless since he suffered his first stroke over a decade ago, and that he’s been unable to return to work since.
“I’m scared to even walk out in the streets,” he said, when we asked if we could meet him in person. He didn’t know what he would do after leaving the Sands, but said “as sure as hell, I won’t be going back to that shelter.”
“I don’t understand what the hell is going on,” he added. “I’m at a complete loss. I want that man arrested.”
Coward said a complaint had been filed at the shelter, but he didn’t know what will follow. He says he’s extremely thankful for the whistleblower and the advocate who are helping him. “It’s nice to know there are still people like that out there,” he said.
Of being offered a night at the Sands, he said “I slept comfortably. I didn’t feel someone was going to attack me.” Of future nights up ahead, when he will avoid the shelter? “I’m leaving that to the man upstairs,” he said.