A 32-year-old Ocala man was arrested after punching a male nurse while receiving medical treatment at AdventHealth Ocala.
The nurse was attending to a patient, John Andrew Anderson, at the hospital around 4:30 p.m. On Tuesday, May 17, when the patient became enraged.
According to the victim, Anderson punched him in the left shoulder. Then Anderson continued to throw punches at the victim after the first one landed, but the victim moved away from him without being struck again.
At the time of the incident, an officer from the Ocala Police Department was at the hospital and heard Anderson screaming. According to the OPD report, the officer observed the victim as he attempted to avoid Anderson’s additional punches.
When the officer brought out a Taser, Anderson calmed down, according to the OPD report. Anderson was handcuffed and told the officer that he is schizophrenic.
The officer noted in the report that Anderson remained calm and coherent after being detained and that Anderson appeared to have full knowledge and control over his actions when he struck the victim.
Anderson was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he is being held on a $2,000 bond. He is charged with felony battery on an emergency medical provider.
