A housewife allegedly attacked her employer (83) for refusing to give her a $500 bonus

A housekeeper has been charged with assaulting an elderly woman at her Florida home, authorities said.

Heather Nelson “physically attacked and robbed” her 83-year-old employer after she was denied the $500 holiday bonus she requested for cleaning the woman’s home on Dec. 24, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. press release.

After the victim stated he did not have enough money to pay the bonus, Nelson, 29, “responsed by physically ripping the checkbook out of the victim’s hand, stealing a check from the checkbook … nearly breaking the elderly victim’s wrist,” police said .

Nelson then wrote herself a stolen check for $1,400 and stole the victim’s credit card to pay the rent and make several other purchases that were later discovered by authorities, according to the release.

Police arrested Nelson on January 7, according to jail records seen by PEOPLE. She has since been released. It was not immediately clear whether she had legal representation who could speak on her behalf.

Police said Nelson now faces numerous charges, including robbery, aggravated battery against a person over 65, grand larceny, forgery, using a false instrument, criminal use of personal information and fraudulent use of a credit card.

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said Tod Goodyear, public information officer for the sheriff’s office Nov 35 Orlando“Judging what she spent the money on, she was in financial trouble.”

He added: “She may have just seen it as the only possible solution, but taking advantage of elderly seniors is not what one does.”

“Elderly people are deceived, often exploited by others, because they have limited options or are very trusting,” Goodyear also told Fox 35 Orlando. “They grew up in a time when people trusted each other.”