EPHRATA, Pa. — An Ephrata man was charged with aggravated assault after hitting, scratching and spitting on four hospital employees, according to the Ephrata Police Department.
Damon Ruoss, 21, scratched two victims, spit on two and punched one. Some of the scratches left marks.
Ruoss became aggressive and started yelling obscenities after being shown to a treatment room in the emergency area of the hospital, police say. He was moved to the room after allegedly verbally threatening the nursing staff in the triage office.
According to police, the patient also punched the wall in the treatment room, causing the drywall to crack.
The assaults occurred during a struggle to restrain Ruoss due to his uncooperative nature, police say. According to a criminal complaint, the people he attacked include two nursing assistants and two security officers.
Ruoss is facing four counts of aggravated assault and one count each of criminal mischief and harassment.
Ruoss was arraigned and assigned to house arrest monitoring.
