Hopkins police are investigating whether a man charged with sexually assaulting a fellow resident of a senior apartment building might also have assaulted other male residents of the building.

Thomas Whitfield, 57, was charged in Hennepin County District Court Thursday with fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the assault Tuesday at the Hopkins Village Apartments near downtown Hopkins.

According to the criminal complaint, Whitfield was visiting an 82-year-old man in his apartment. The man was sitting in a chair when Whitfield walked over and began to perform a sex act on him.

The man "became very upset" and "pushed Tom away" the complaint said.

Later, the man identified a photograph of Whitfield to police. The complaint said Hopkins police know of other elderly residents in the building who claim to have been "taken advantage of." Hopkins police could not be reached Thursday night to comment on the case.

The apartment complex is geared toward low-income residents who are 62 years or older. Several residents at the building said Thursday that they hadn't heard about the alleged assault, though one woman said she knew Whitfield often helped residents with errands.

Safety training for elders

Kevin Hansen, an elder justice advocate with ElderCare Rights Alliance, said his organization often provides safety training for people who live in nursing homes, but also in buildings where there are a large number of elderly residents.

"What we are seeing is people in senior communities or in the care of family members -- non-licensed areas -- are increasingly becoming victims of these perpetrators," he said. "There's less regulation and oversight."

Hansen said if you feel uncomfortable with a visitor in your home, you should ask the person to leave. If you feel uncomfortable doing that, he said, use an excuse about needing to leave.

"(Perpetrators) try to gain their trust in a lot of situations," Hansen said. "They start taking them to doctor's appointments or run errands around town."

Each county in the state has a "common entry point" for elderly people to report problems. To find the number for a specific county, call the Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433.

Lora Pabst • 612-673-4628