Nurse Attacked with Jagged Wood Weapon at Pasadena Mental Health Facility

A nurse was hospitalized Sunday night after being attacked by a patient wielding a piece of jagged wood at a mental health care facility, authorities said.

The assault occurred around 9:48 p.m. in the 1500 block of North Fair Oaks Avenue, according to Pasadena Police Lieutenant Matt Campeau. The victim, identified as a 45-year-old woman from Rosemead, sustained a one-inch laceration to the back of her head and was transported to a local hospital in stable condition, Campeau said.

The suspect, identified as Melvin Curry, 23, of Pasadena, allegedly attacked the nurse as she attempted to administer medication. Curry reportedly struck her several times on the head with his hands and a piece of wood with a jagged edge, Campeau said.

Curry fled immediately after the assault but was apprehended by responding officers about two blocks away from the facility. Officers reportedly recovered the wooden weapon used in the attack as evidence, according to Campeau.

Curry was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and booked into the Pasadena Jail. Campeau said.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Pasadena Police at (626) 744-4241 or report information anonymously by contacting “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) via your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org