Authorities have charged a hospital patient with attempted murder after he reportedly violently assaulted a nurse.
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The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office explained the situation over a series of posts on X. Per the reports, officers responded to an "aggravated battery" incident at the Palm's West hospital around 1:20 pm on February 18. A male patient, Steven Scantlebury, 33, reportedly committed aggravated battery against a nurse working at the hospital.
The nurse's injuries were so extensive that emergency services transported her to St. Mary's Hospital for treatment.
According to FOX8, deputies arrived at a patient room on the third floor and found the nurse inside. Their injuries were so severe that "essentially every bone in the victim's face is broken," per an arrest affidavit. The nurse may also reportedly lose the use of both eyes.
Scantlebury allegedly made a run for it after the incident and sprinted onto a highway. Eye-witness footage provided to the outlet shows Scantlebury strolling down the road barefoot, wearing nothing but his black underwear. He still had a patient identification bracelet on and EKG pads and leads attached to his chest.
Hospital staff and police officers are shown following Scantlebury at a distance on the footpath. Shortly after, another officer points a stun gun at the suspect, instructing him to lie down on the highway.
Another update by the Sheriff's Office on X states Scantlebury "has been arrested and is currently undergoing medical clearance. He faces charges of attempted murder."
The Hospital Incident May Be Treated As A Hate Crime
Per a further update on X by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, Scantlebury may have a "hate crime enhancement" added to his sentence. "Based on the ongoing investigations of the battery incident at Palms West Hospital, a hate crime enhancement is being added to Stephen Scantlebury's existing charge of attempted second-degree murder.
The post explains that hate crime enhancements can result in harsher penalties if proven. They also highlight a potential motive behind the crime.
HCA Florida Healthcare, who owns the hospital, said in a statement:
"The attack on our nursing colleague happened within a matter of seconds and was witnessed by multiple people who came to assist. We are grateful to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office who acted to detain the suspect, and we are assisting law enforcement in their investigation."
