Martinez Jail Nurse Hospitalized After Attack
MARTINEZ (AP) – An East Bay jail nurse remained hospitalized Tuesday after being struck in the head with a lamp in what authorities said was an attack by an inmate.
The nurse was knocked unconscious Monday after the inmate faked a seizure to avoid being put in a waiting room at the jail in Martinez, Contra Costa County Sheriff Warren Rupf said.
Authorities would not release the name of the nurse or her condition. Her injuries were not life-threatening, Rupf said.
"I have no reason to believe that she won't fully recover," he said.
The attack came two days after Donna Gross, 54, a psychiatric technician at a state mental hospital was strangled in a separate incident.
Prosecutors have charged Jess Willard Massey, 37, a patient at Napa State Hospital who has been declared criminally insane, with murder with special circumstances.
Massey did not enter a plea during his arraignment Tuesday. His next court date is Nov. 15.
In the attack in the Martinez jail, burglary suspect Aaron Nygaard, 34, of El Cerrito was booked for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon, authorities said.
Authorities believe the attack was unprovoked and involved a lamp that had been brought to the nurse's station to better read documents.
Nygaard fought with deputies before he was restrained through the use of a Taser and physical force, Rupf said.
Nygaard gave no indication of any aggressive behavior and appeared calm before the attack, Rupf said.
Nygaard has no previous criminal record.
The nurse is a longtime employee with Contra Costa Health Services, which provides medical care at the jail under a contract with the sheriff's office.
"Staff safety is a high priority and we are working closely with the Sheriff's Office on this investigation." said Anna Roth, chief executive officer of Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers.
Rupf said the 650-inmate jail will review its safety measures. There were about 48 attacks on jail staff last year but none involved medical workers.
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