Man reports being assaulted, Tased by Saint Ages Medical Center security officers
Fresno CA June 4 2020
While Daniel Duncan’s wife was being admitted into Saint Ages Medical Center on Tuesday, the 39-year-old Fresno man was being tackled and Tased by hospital security.
Duncan was detained for more than four hours early Tuesday morning before being charged with battery in an incident that has his family calling for a formal apology.
“When we talk about black lives matter, this is what we are talking about,” said the Rev. Lenny Duncan, who posted about the incident on Twitter on Tuesday morning, after police responded to the disturbance and cited his brother.
“Middle of global pandemic, social distancing, black trauma everywhere. Black family goes to hospital for help. Husband is assaulted. Wife is still under the care of these people for 72 hours because as her husband was assaulted she seemed upset,” he tweeted.
According to the Fresno police report, “He returned and was agitated.” Security told Duncan he could not see his wife, and he became aggressive and loud. Duncan punched one of the guards, and was taken to the ground and Tased (in dry stun mode) two or three times by security, according to the report. Duncan in an interview with The Bee said he did not punch the guard.
At the time, Duncan seemed to take ownership of his actions, said Fresno police Sgt. Jeff La Blue. Duncan told the responding officer he was “stressed, concerned about his wife and overreacted.”
While, the police report doesn’t mention any racist comments, several of Rev. Duncan’s follow-up tweets referenced alleged comments made by hospital security. In a message to The Bee, Daniel Duncan said one of the guards laughed after the incident and said, “Now you can go back to that fat, black bitch.”
Hospital officials said they would not have a comment on the specifics of the case as it relates to Duncan’s wife due to federal privacy regulations, but said officials pressed for the battery charge and that the case is currently under investigation.
The Duncans said they are filing a formal complaint with the hospital and in the process of contacting lawyers and the NAACP.
So far, the hospital has not received any formal complaint, a Saint Agnes spokesperson said in a message Tuesday afternoon. The spokesperson also said there is no immediate evidence to support the allegation of racial slurs.
“We do not condone or tolerate such hateful language, and will continue to investigate,” said Kelley Sanchez, the hospital’s corporate communications director.
In a statement Tuesday night, Saint Agnes Medical Center President and CEO Nancy Hollingsworth acknowledged the dialogue happening on social media around the incident, but said it did not “accurately depict the events that took place.”
“We are saddened about this situation and how it has been portrayed, but remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the health and safety of our patients, colleagues and community,” she wrote.
Rev. Duncan, who lives and has a congregation in Vancouver, Washington, said his brother did what anyone would do in the situation: He was upset, hearing his wife in distress and being told he couldn’t go to help.
“His concern as a black man for his family was interpreted as aggressive,” Rev. Duncan said.
Duncan’s wife was in a fragile state and was at the hospital to get help, Rev. Duncan said. Instead, “as she’s being taken away she watches her husband being Tased.” Duncan’s wife remains at the hospital, though the family is requesting she be released to another hospital.
The family is also asking for Saint Agnes to apologize and accept culpability in the incident.
“This is about institutions in communities of colors being used against us,” Rev. Duncan said.
Fresno Bee
