An Evansville Police officer is in the hospital after being assaulted.
In a news release, the EPD said the attack occurred Early Tuesday morning inside the emergency room at St. Vincent Hospital.
Police say 28 year old Justin Brunner was waiting for a crisis intervention assessment, and made several attempts to leave.
Due to his mental state, he was not permitted to leave without being evaluated.
Hospital staff requested the Evansville Police officer who was working off duty at the E.R. sit with him while he waited to be evaluated.
Police say Detective Aaron McCormick, in full uniform, was in an exam room with Brunner when he tried to leave again.
They say McCormick tried to stop Brunner and a struggle ensued, in which the officer fell and hit his face on the floor.
Police say Brunner then got on top of McCormick, struck him in the head and face multiple times, and then left the room and began running through the ER.
Police say despite a broken nose and other facial injuries, Detective McCormick was able to chase Brunner and catch him.
Hospital staff, including St. Vincent’s security officers, struggled to help McCormick subdue Brunner until a security officer deployed a Taser.
Brunner was arrested on battery charges, for allegedly hitting the officer and an ER nurse.
He’s also charged with Resisting Arrest.
