A tense afternoon at Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville ended without injuries Friday after a man allegedly threatened hospital staff with a knife, then briefly ran from responding officers before being arrested, according to Montgomery County police.
Authorities said no patients, staff members or officers were hurt, and the Montgomery County Department of Police reported that the incident remains under investigation.
According to DC News Now, which cited the Montgomery County Department of Police, officers were alerted to reports of a person brandishing a knife in the 9900 block of Medical Center Drive and responded to the hospital campus. Officers deployed Tasers that did not make contact with the suspect, who then fled for a short distance before being caught and taken into custody. Shady Grove Medical Center is operated by Adventist HealthCare.
How The Hospital Scare Unfolded
"No injuries were reported," Montgomery County police said, adding that detectives were continuing their inquiry Friday afternoon. The department told DC News Now that investigators were still working the case. Officials have not released additional details about the suspect or any charges as the investigation moves forward.
Hospital Staff Safety Under Scrutiny
The scare comes as experts and regulators warn that hospitals nationwide are facing rising rates of workplace violence directed at health care workers. The Joint Commission has tightened its standards on preventing workplace violence, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has noted that health care workers experience higher assault rates than many other professions.
Montgomery County police asked anyone with information about the Shady Grove incident to contact detectives. This story will be updated as authorities release more details.
