Woman arrested after allegedly attacking nurses, security at American Fork Hospital
American Fork UT Feb 26 2019
Officers arrested an American Fork woman on Saturday after she reportedly attacked hospital staff and security with scissors and damaged medical equipment in her hospital room.
Paloma Macias, 22, was booked into the Utah County Jail on investigation of assaulting healthcare providers, aggravated assault and criminal mischief, all third-degree felonies.
She was also arrested for reportedly giving false information to law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor, and threatening healthcare providers, a class B misdemeanor.
According to a police report, Macias made comments that prompted a friend to drive her to the American Fork Hospital sometime on Saturday. Once at the hospital, Macias refused medical treatment and tried to leave after staff said she needed to stay for her own safety.
Macias then attacked emergency medical workers, biting one nurse on her knee hard enough to cause bleeding, police reported.
“She had also caused injury to a responding hospital security officer with the scissors she had taken from a nurse during that assault,” according to the probable cause statement.
Police determined other medical staff were assaulted but did not have any injuries.
Macias was brought into a secure hospital room and restrained to a bed, police reported. She eventually broke free from the restraints and caused extensive damage to the hospital room, including throwing a chair at the door.
The total cost of damage was around $4,000, according to police.
Officers with the American Fork Police Department responded to the scene and arrested Macias. She was reportedly on probation for domestic violence charges in Colorado.
