Alabama man accused of stabbing hospital nurse as he tried to leave
06/30/2021 4:17 pm PDT
OPELIKA, Ala. (TCD) --
Police in Alabama arrested a man they say stabbed a nurse in the chest as he tried leaving the hospital last week.
The Opelika Police Department released a statement announcing the arrest of 54-year-old Steve John Collins on June 24.
Officers responded to a call at the East Alabama Medical Center at 2000 Pepperell Parkway regarding an assault early on the morning of June 24.
According to WRBL-TV, which cites court documents filed in Lee County Circuit Court, the nurse was reportedly treating Collins.
Collins reportedly left the room and the unidentified nurse followed and saw he had a knife in his hand.
The document states the nurse "attempted to re-enter the hospital, but her key card/ID would not open the door." He allegedly "approached her and stabbed her in the chest once."
The nurse reportedly tried fighting back. Collins allegedly told her, "You're going to die anyway" and then walked off, the document says.
Officers detained Collins in a parking lot. Collins was wearing bloody clothing and allegedly threw a folding pocket knife from a shirt pocket, police said.
The nurse suffered a stab wound to the upper left part of her chest.
East Alabama Medical Center spokesperson John Atkinson told WRBL: "This was an isolated incident, and we are working with the OPD in their investigation. We’re very thankful that our nurse is stable and recovering and is aware of our full support both today and going forward."
Collins was booked into Lee County Jail on second-degree assault charges. He was released on $25,000 bond.
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