Patient Who Punched ER Nurse and Resisted Arrest Faces Felony Charges
- Nurse injured in ER assault: The incident occurred as staff attempted to de-escalate a patient leaving the emergency department.
- Injuries incurred: The suspect struck the nurse multiple times with his fists, causing injury.
- Suspect faces multiple charges: Including felony assault of hospital personnel and resisting arrest.
A 27-year-old man is facing multiple charges after allegedly assaulting a nurse with his fists inside an emergency department in Tyler, Texas, and later resisting arrest, according to local authorities.
Police say the incident occurred at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas, where officers were dispatched following reports of an assault involving hospital staff.
Alleged Assault Occurred During Attempt to Leave ER
According to an affidavit, Gustavo Sanchez-Castillo was attempting to leave the emergency room when the situation escalated. The patient had sitters assigned to him, and when they attempted to stop Sanchez-Castillo from leaving the ER, he became physically violent.
When a nurse stepped in to help de-escalate the situation, authorities allege that Sanchez-Castillo then struck the nurse multiple times with his fists.
Responding officers reported visible injuries, and the nurse later described experiencing pain and soreness following the incident.
Suspect Later Located and Arrested After Resisting Officers
It's not immediately clear if Sanchez-Castillo left the hospital AMA or was discharged following the assault, but later that same day, police responded to a separate call involving a man in a hospital gown refusing to leave a residential yard.
Officers identified the individual as Sanchez-Castillo and located him hiding behind a vehicle.
According to reports, he resisted arrest multiple times, requiring officers to physically restrain him and place him into a patrol vehicle.
Charges and Potential Penalties
Sanchez-Castillo is currently being held in the Smith County Jail on bonds totaling $60,000.
He faces charges of:
- Assaulting hospital personnel (third-degree felony)
- Resisting arrest (Class A misdemeanor)
If convicted, he could face two to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.
People commenting on a Facebook post about the charges pointed out that the patient had sitters for a reason, so the case may not have been as simple as just 'let him walk out of the hospital.' He may have posed a safety risk to himself or been on an involuntary mental health hold.
And as one person noted: "Nursing today is very dangerous. They are not protected by their employers either. We need to do better for those in the nursing profession."
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