WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A dramatic escape followed by a violent attack at Palms West Hospital has led to the arrest of Stephen Eric Scantlebury, who allegedly assaulted a 67-year-old nurse almost to death, authorities said. Hospital security cameras captured the suspect fleeing blood-stained and frantic, trying to force entry into multiple vehicles on Southern Boulevard.
Witnesses reported that Scantlebury, after aggressively trying to engage passersby, was restrained and taken into custody without further incident. Wendell Sanders, a driver whose vehicle was targeted by the suspect, recounted the terrifying moment. “He (Scantlebury) approached my truck, blood all over his hands, demanding help and claiming someone was trying to kill him,” Sanders explained.
This incident is not the first violent offense for Scantlebury; he was previously convicted of assault charges in Charlottetown, Canada. In 2018, he attacked the grandfather of his child, punching him and attempting to slam a car trunk on the man’s head, which resulted in a 30-day jail sentence.
Back at Palms West Hospital, on the day of the attack, Scantlebury, reportedly displaying erratic and paranoid behavior, had checked himself in, complaining of chest pains. He was placed under a Baker Act hold, a Florida statute that allows for involuntary examination of an individual. He was later transferred to a regular room where he attacked nurse Leela Lal, causing severe injuries that have left her on a ventilator.
The severity of the attack has ignited concerns over hospital security. Nurses at Palms West, shaken by the violence, have initiated a petition now bearing over 200 signatures, demanding the presence of a sheriff’s deputy in the emergency room. Currently, hospital security measures include only private security guards or designated ‘sitters’ who monitor high-risk patients.
In light of the circumstances leading up to the incident, including Scantlebury’s prior criminal record and dual Canadian citizenship, prosecutors are treating him as a flight risk. This has led a judge to rule against his release, with a stark warning about the potential for further violence.
The case has heightened awareness regarding the safety and security measures necessary in medical facilities, a concern shared broadly across the healthcare community. The discussion is expected to influence local policy decisions and could lead to increased law enforcement presence in hospitals across the region.
As the legal proceedings against Scantlebury progress, the community and especially those at Palms West Hospital are left to ponder the balance between offering care and maintaining security in environments designed to be sanctuaries of healing.