On Wednesday afternoon, the Maple Heights Police Department was dispatched to Signature Health after a patient stabbed an employee.
Around 1:30 p.m., officers arrived on the scene to find the 24-year-old patient being restrained by security and the 49-year-old clinician being treated by other employees for a stab wound to his neck, police said.
The incident occurred when the clinician and the patient were in a closed room, and police said the victim fled from the patient after being stabbed.
The patient then began to chase the employee and allegedly continued to attack him, police said. Other employees then intervened by throwing a chair at the patient to slow him down until on-site security confronted the attacker at gunpoint and subdued him until police could arrive.
The patient was taken into custody with no incident, and the clinician was transported to a nearby hospital, police said.
On Friday, Maple Heights Police said the 24-year-old patient was charged with attempted murder and felonious assault.
Police also said the employee is in critical yet stable condition as of Friday.
Officials with Signature Health said that the location will be closed for the remainder of the week due to the incident.
The CEO of Signature Health, Jonathan Lee, issues the following statement regarding the matter:
"Earlier today, an incident occurred at Signature Health's Maple Heights location and a clinician was injured and taken to the hospital.
Signature Health’s highest priority right now is the welfare of the individual who was injured, and our thoughts are with those impacted at this time.
We are committed to providing a safe environment, and we are taking this situation very seriously. We are working with local authorities to determine whether any additional actions are needed, and the Maple Heights office will be closed for the remainder of the week. We will provide further details as appropriate.”
Maple Heights Police said the staff at Signature Health should be praised for their heroic actions during the incident.
"The actions of the employees at Signature Health are to be commended," Maple Heights Police said in a statement. "Employees and the security staff worked together to stop the attacker until police arrival and rendered critical medical aid to the victim until fire/EMS arrival and treatment/transport. The staff at Signature Health deserve major accolades for their heroic actions in the face of danger."
Click here to access the GoFundMe that was started for the employee.
