A St. Landry Parish woman was arrested Saturday on charges of cruelty to the infirm by a caregiver, and for possession of marijuana, cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

Veronica Zachary (45yoa) who had been a self contracted, live in caretaker in the 100 block of East Josephine Street, was arrested around 2 PM when Port Barre police entered into the victims home and noticed Zachary standing in front of the sitting victim, yelling and cursing. Once police placed Zachary outside and away from the victim, they were able to see what appeared to be a red hand print, consistent with a slap, on the side of the elderly victims face, fresh scratch marks and bruises on the upper portion of her arms.

According to police, the elderly victim stated that she had been abused for several weeks by Zachary but was too afraid to tell anyone. She claimed that just prior to the officers arriving, Zachary pulled her hair, slapped her in the face and hit her on other parts of her body.  While arresting Zachary, officers found marijuana and cocaine in her purse and in the room she was living in. Zachary was arrested and booked into the Port Barre jail  on charges of Cruelty to the Infirmed, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Cocaine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Police say she will be held in the Port Barre jail until she is arraigned in front of a St. Landry Parish district judge.