A man accused of attacking a female health care worker who was tending to him in the emergency room at UF Health Leesburg Hospital last month was arrested Monday at his home in Clermont.
Brian Lee Terry Butt, 35, was treated May 31 at the hospital, located at 600 E. Dixie Ave. The victim was a unit secretary/direct observer in the emergency room, according to an affidavit of probable cause out of Lake County.
UF’s policy is to have a direct observer keep a constant eye on and assist any patient deemed suicidal or under a Baker Act, which allows for the involuntary institutionalization and examination of an individual. At the time of the incident, the victim told a Leesburg police officer she was tending to Butt in the emergency room when he kicked her in the abdomen, the affidavit said.
The victim said she backed up as Butt stood from his bedside, and Butt shoved her with two open hands into a wall. The victim stumbled back as Butt was secured by another nurse on scene, the affidavit said.
The officer then spoke with a female witness who was visiting another patient at the hospital. The witness said she saw the victim tending to Butt when he rushed at the victim and shoved her, causing her to trip and slam into the wall. The witness said Butt also threw a cup of juice at the victim before being secured by hospital staff, according to the affidavit.
The officer tried to interview Butt at the time, but he refused to respond to law enforcement or hospital staff while they were there. He was arrested by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Monday and charged with battery on a medical care provider.
Butt was taken to the Lake County Jail, where he was released after posting $5,000 bond.
