Man arrested after urinating on Coral Springs hospital floor and injuring police officer
Coral Springs, Florida -A 21-year-old man was arrested in Coral Springs after police said he caused a disturbance inside Broward Health Coral Springs, confronted hospital security guards and injured an officer during the arrest.
Coral Springs police were called to the hospital at about 6 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, after medical staff reported that a patient, identified as Ross Stephens, had urinated on the floor and was arguing with hospital employees.
When officers arrived, they encountered Stephens near two hospital security guards. According to the arrest report, Stephens was standing within about 2 to 3 feet of the guards with his fists balled. Police said his behavior made it appear that he was preparing to fight.
An officer instructed Stephens to calm down. Instead, according to police, he continued swaying and attempted to walk away from the area.
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Officers then moved to detain him. When one officer grabbed Stephens by the right arm, police said he turned toward the officer in a manner that suggested he was about to fight.
A second officer grabbed Stephens’ left arm and assisted in escorting him toward a hospital bed. Police then attempted to place him in handcuffs.
The situation became physical as the first officer was putting a handcuff on Stephens’ right wrist. According to the report, Stephens reached backward with his left hand and grabbed the second officer’s right arm.
Police said Stephens scraped the officer’s arm with his fingernails during the struggle. The scratches broke the officer’s skin and caused bleeding.
Coral Springs EMS responded and treated the injured officer at the scene. A crime scene officer also photographed the injuries as part of the investigation.
Police later searched Stephens following the arrest. Investigators said Stephens had a backpack inside the hospital room and confirmed that the backpack belonged to him.
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Inside the front pocket, officers found a green leafy substance. According to the arrest report, the substance tested positive for marijuana and weighed approximately 2 grams.
The hospital disturbance and subsequent struggle resulted in several criminal charges against Stephens. He was arrested on charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence. Both charges are listed as third-degree felonies.
Stephens also faces a first-degree misdemeanor charge for possession of no more than 20 grams of cannabis.
The arrest began with a report of disruptive behavior inside the hospital and escalated after officers attempted to take Stephens into custody. The police report documents the confrontation with security personnel, the struggle with officers and the injuries suffered by one officer.
Following his arrest, Stephens was transported to the Broward Sheriff’s Office jail.
The case now moves forward through the court system, where the allegations against Stephens will be addressed. The charges are based on the circumstances described in the police report.
