Police Say Covenant Patient Struck a Nurse Several Times

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On Tuesday, August 10th, a Lubbock man was arrested after police say he punched an ICU nurse multiple times.

KAMC News reports that Lubbock Police received reports of the incident at around 6 p.m. It's said that there was a patient who was attempting to check himself out of the ICU. That patient was Jimmy Dale Backus, who was admitted into Covenant Medical Center around 4 days prior. What exactly he was admitted for wasn't made clear.

On multiple occasions, staff members told Backus that they didn't think he should be released, saying he was supposed to stay an extra day.

Backus is said to have lost his balance trying to stand up, and that's when a nurse tried to help him so he didn't fall. It was at that moment that Backus allegedly began punching the nurse that was helping him, on top of acting erratic and vulgar with other medical personnel. It's said Backus struck the nurse 5 to 7 times.

On arrival, police noted bruises developing on the nurse's stomach and scratch marks on the inside of their arm.

Backus was arrested and booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center for assault on an emergency medical services personnel provider. As of Wednesday, August 11th. his bond had not yet been set.