A MOVILLE MAN IS IN CUSTODY FACING CHARGES AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTED HOSPITAL STAFF WHO WERE CARING FOR HIM.
SIOUX CITY POLICE WERE DISPATCHED TO MERCYONE AND FOUND 44-YEAR-OLD ALFRED GOMEZ IN A CONFRONTATION WITH MEDICAL STAFF.
POLICE SAY GOMEZ WAS ASSAULTING MEDICAL STAFF BY STABBING THEM WITH A NEEDLE HE HAD REMOVED FROM HIS I-V, THEN BROKE THE IV STAND IN PIECES AND TIED THE PIECES TO HIS WRISTS TO USE AS WEAPONS.
WHEN OFFICERS ASKED GOMEZ TO STAND DOWN, HE BEGAN THROWING OBJECTS AT THEM.
POLICE THEN USED PEPPER SPRAY TO SUBDUE GOMEZ AND TAKE HIM INTO CUSTODY.
GOMEZ SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS TREATED BY MERCY ONE STAFF.
HE WAS TO BE CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE COUNTS OF ASSAULT INCLUDING ASSAULT ON A PEACE OFFICER AND CRIMINAL MISCHIEF.
MERCYONE LATER IN THE DAY RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING IN PART:
“PATIENTS AND COLLEAGUES WHO MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE PEPPER SPRAY HAVE NO LASTING IMPACTS, INCLUDING RELOCATING ALL PATIENTS ON THE IMPACTED FLOOR WITHIN THE MEDICAL CENTER.
WE APPRECIATE THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THE SIOUX CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT IN HELPING ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR PATIENTS AND COLLEAGUES”.
Updated 5:30 p.m. 3/23/23
