Elderly SF General Patient Attacked In Emergency Room; Man Arrested
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A 29-year-old man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to three felony charges in connection with an alleged attack of an elderly woman at San Francisco General Hospital last Friday, prosecutors said.
Orin Zebest pleaded not guilty to two felony assault charges and one count of elder abuse for the attack, which occurred at about 10:05 p.m. Friday, district attorney's office spokesman Alex Bastian said.
Hospital officials said Zebest was on a psychiatric hold and was being transferred from the main emergency room to the psychiatric emergency room when he assaulted Mary Perez, an elderly woman who was also an emergency room patient.
Zebest had initially also been booked on suspicion of attempted murder but was later rebooked on the assault and elder abuse allegations, sheriff's spokeswoman Susan Fahey said.
San Francisco General Hospital officials released a statement about the incident, saying they are "profoundly sorry that Ms. Perez was injured while in our care. We take patient safety very seriously and are reviewing our procedures."
Zebest remains in jail in lieu of $225,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court on March 13 for a pre-hearing conference, Bastian said.
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