ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A Jefferson County woman appeared in court Tuesday morning to face charges for allegedly attacking a nurse and patient at Mercy South Hospital last week.
According to the St. Louis County Police Department’s probable cause statement, the attack happened Thursday, May 1.
Police said the suspect, Ashley Nash, had been admitted to the hospital and attempted to get the attention of a nurse.
When the nurse turned to address Nash, police said Nash struck the nurse in the head and then attempted to hit a nearby patient in the head, but the patient managed to block the blow.
Hospital security subdued Nash, who was then arrested.
The nurse suffered brain bleeding due to the attack, police said.
Nash was already on parole for third-degree assault in Washington County and has prior guilty verdicts for multiple instances of misdemeanor assault in 2016. In 2015, Nash was sentenced to state prison after being found guilty of second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Nash with second-degree assault and fourth-degree assault. She remains jailed on a $300,000 cash-only bond.