JONESBORO, Ark. — A 20-year-old patient was arrested after police say he assaulted a medical staff member during a routine morning blood draw at St. Bernards Behavioral Health, according to a probable-cause affidavit.
Officers responded around 5:46 a.m. on Nov. 22 after a nurse reported she had been attacked while entering Raul Gonzalez’s room to perform a standard blood draw. Gonzalez told staff he was too weak to stand, and a roommate helped him to his feet.
The affidavit states that as soon as he rose, Gonzalez quickly advanced toward the nurse and repeatedly struck her in the head and neck area until other staff members intervened and physically restrained him. The nurse was able to exit the room once Gonzalez was restrained.
Officers reported the nurse had multiple areas of swelling and a bleeding laceration to her lip, consistent with the described assault.
Raul Gonzalez, 20, of Blytheville, was arrested on a charge of second-degree battery causing injury to medical personnel, a Class D felony.
According to notes on the affidavit, Gonzalez refused to sign or review his paperwork before court. When brought before District Judge Tommy Fowler, he repeatedly asked questions about the accusations. After several responses from the judge, Gonzalez was advised in open court that his next court date is Jan. 23.
Judge Fowler set Gonzalez’s bail at $15,000 cash or surety and issued a no-contact order barring him from returning to St. Bernard’s Behavioral Health.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Unless the police report contains information on medications it is useless. When are people going to understand – or admit – that psychiatric medications invariably cause such incidents? http://victimsofacch.org/psychopharmaceuticals.html
I believe it is Hippa violation to give his name. They could be sued or go to jail. Check with someone who knows about Hippa.