PORT TOWNSEND — A Port Townsend man has been given $100,000 bail after allegedly assaulting a Jefferson Healthcare Emergency Room nurse and law enforcement officials.
Port Townsend Police Officer Mark Dumond was injured and told by a doctor to stay home for about a week, said Officer Tevor Hansen. The nurse was uninjured.
Jamie Scott Beal, 31, was arrested Thursday morning after police officers were dispatched to the hospital when he was reportedly pushing through health care staff and behaving aggressively.
Charges were filed Friday by Jefferson County Prosecuting attorney James Kennedy with one count of assault in the second degree — intentional assault/reckless infliction of substantial bodily harm, one count of assault in the third degree — nurse physician or health care worker, six counts of harassment of criminal justice participant who was performing his official duties and one count interference with a health care facility, court documents said.
Beal’s next court appearance is set for Friday, April 3, according to court documents.
Dumond and Hansen were the first on scene at about 12:35 a.m. and were soon joined by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Shane Stevenson and deputies Brian Peterson and Brian Anderson, as well as state Trooper Jamie Hodgson, according to the probable cause statement written by Hansen.
Beal already had an officer safety advisory due to past assaults on law enforcement and is known to suffer from mental health problems, which can cause him to become aggressive when he’s off his medication, said Hansen.
“He has a history of fighting police and has injured JCSO deputies in past encounters,” Hansen said. “He is also know to be extremely strong, having lifted several officers at a time during fights, and requiring numerous officers and chemical sedatives to subdue during past encounters.
“He is also known to have training in Jiu Jitsu and [Mixed Martial Arts] fighting.”
Beal was being held at the hospital for mental health concerns, but was refusing to listen to staff and was walking around the Emergency Room (ER), staff-only areas and being aggressive towards staff. The officers each attempted to talk with Beal and de-escalate the situation before it resulted in violence, Hansen said.
Reportedly, Beal said many times he wanted to fight as the officers attempted to calm him down. After about an hour, Beal rushed out of the room and attacked a female nurse working in the ER. He shoved her and tried to grab her while yelling threats, attempting to hit her, Hansen said.
The law enforcement officers tried to take control of Beal to stop the assault, but Beal fought back, punching Dumond in the face with a closed fist, causing Dumond’s head to snap backwards. Dumond tackled Beal to the ground with help from the others, Hansen said.
While on the ground, Beal grabbed Dumond’s face, sticking his thumb inside Dumond’s mouth and gauging the side of his face with his fingernails and breaking out one of the lens of Dumond’s glasses, Hansen said.
As the officers struggled to control Beal, he said “he would kill us all” repeatedly, Hansen said.
At one point, Beal lifted Peterson and Dumond both off the ground with one arm, Hansen said.
“It took all six officers exerting full strength to keep [Beal] from escaping and continuing to attack us,” Hansen said.
Beal was eventually chemically sedated and then treated for a cut he had sustained when tackled and then taken into custody in full restraints, Hansen said.
Dumond was treated for cuts to his face and was also bleeding from his mouth and nose.
The ER doctor said he may have suffered a cracked or broken nose, according to Hansen who added that Dumon was driven home because of dizzyness and his injuries and the doctor told him not to return to work for at least a week.
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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
