A patient at St. Cloud (Minn.) Hospital has been charged with second-degree assault after allegedly trying to choke a hospital employee, according to a KSTP news report.
According to prosecutors, the assault occurred after the mental health worker declined to give the patient, 42-year-old William Kern, a breathing device on May 8. The employee said Mr. Kern did not need the device. Mr. Kern then allegedly grabbed the worker by the throat area, which prevented her from breathing or swallowing, according to the criminal complaint. The employee sounded an alarm and other staff intervened.
Prior to the incident, the hospital employee had worked with Mr. Kern for three weeks without any problems, according to the report.
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