GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. – Gwinnett County police charged four people for running an unlicensed personal care home where 14 residents were found without proper medical treatment last Thursday.

What we know:

Investigators said officers searched two homes on Pond Edge Road on April 30 after receiving reports that the properties were being used as unauthorized care facilities.

Police said they found 14 people living inside the homes. Authorities also reported discovering expired food, beverages and medications during the investigation.

According to investigators, one resident suffering from dementia was taken to the hospital.

The four suspects were arrested May 5 and booked into the Gwinnett County Jail. Each is charged with two counts of operating an unlicensed personal care home.

What they’re saying:

Gwinnett County Police Corporal Ryan Winderweedle said evidence onsite showed risks to resident safety. “They located expired medications, expired foods, expired drinks when conducting a search warrant, took photos of the living conditions and went from there,” Winderweedle said.

One suspect tried to get residents to return the day after Adult Protective Services issued a cease-and-desist order. “One of the suspects was reaching back out to residents trying to get them to come back when, the previous day, adult protective services issued a cease-and-desist order meaning they couldn’t operate anymore and didn’t have license,” Winderweedle said.

What you can do:

Authorities are asking the public to stay alert when picking care homes for family. “If you feel like your loved one or family member is in a facility like this reach out and have a police report done and detectives will look into it,” Winderweedle said.

What we don’t know:

Police have not released additional information about the conditions inside the homes or the identities of the residents involved.