Holy Cross Hospital in Taos, N.M., went on lockdown late Wednesday after a woman was battered by her boyfriend in the maternity ward with her newborn baby, according to the Albuquerque Journal.
The boyfriend, Rafael Orozco, 22, escaped from the hospital after hospital security personnel tackled him following the disturbance in the maternity ward. The security guards backed off after Mr. Orozco fought with them and claimed he had a gun, Sgt. David Trujillo of the Taos Police Department told the Albuquerque Journal.
Sgt. Trujillo said Mr. Orozco has a long criminal record and there is an active warrant out for his arrest.
Mr. Orozco allegedly grabbed his 23-year-old girlfriend by the throat and punched her in the mouth while the baby was beside her in bed, Sgt. Trujillo said. The woman and her baby were not seriously injured, although the mother has a "minor slap mark" on her face and the infant was "either intentionally or accidentally" slapped on the head by Mr. Orozco, according to the report.
Mr. Orozco is said to be the baby's father.
A statement from the hospital said it instituted emergency protocols Wednesday at 11:46 p.m. after the incident, barring visitors from entering the hospital. The hospital did allow patients with scheduled appointments to come in, and conducted "business as usual" in providing clinical services, according to the report.
"All of our clinical operations are open," Steve Rozenboom, CFO of Holy Cross Hospital, said in a statement. "We are taking necessary precautions to protect the safety and privacy of our patients and employees. That is always our main concern."
The woman was released from the hospital Thursday afternoon and "was going to a safe place," Sgt. Trujillo said, according to the report.