On Thursday August 22, 2019 at 1043 hrs. Lancaster Bureau of Police Off. Karson Arnold responded to an urgent request for assistance from Security at Penn Medicine/LGH. Limited information was received that Security was dealing with a combative person and that person was being restrained. 

When Off. Arnold arrived Security advised that the person in question, an adult female, had been sequestered in a secure area of the hospital. Off. Arnold was told that a mother had taken her (4) year old daughter to the Emergency Medical Department. While there, an unknown female approached the child and picked her up. (original release listed that she turned away from the mother.)

A Security Officer from LGH was at that location and immediately intervened as he realized that the woman was not authorized to pick up the child. The Security Officer was able to return the child to her mother. When the Security Officer turned to speak with the unknown female, she became combative. The female struck at the Security Officer and knocked his radio mic from his uniform shirt. The female struck the Security Officer several times on his torso with her closed fist before he was able to take her under control. Off. Arnold spoke with all parties involved as well as witnesses. 

The child and her mother were not harmed. 

Off. Arnold consulted with an Assistant District Attorney. Charges for Aggravated Assault (F2) were approved for the assault on the Security Officer. Charges were not authorized for the incident involving the child. Off. Arnold obtained an arrest warrant for the female suspect. 

The female that struck the Security Officer remains a patient at Penn Medicine/ LGH. Due to HIPPA restrictions her name is not being released at this time. When the warrant is served a supplemental press release will be issued.