ER patient accused of kicking deputy

A female deputy was kicked in the face Thursday by a drunk patient in the emergency room, according to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

A deputy sergeant also had his whistle chain ripped off during the melee, authorities said.

In the end, deputies subdued Russell William Henley and placed him under arrest, according to the sheriff's office.

Henley, 51, was charged with battery of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence and disorderly conduct.

Deputy Cari Smith wrote in her report that Henley "became belligerent" to an emergency care nurse at Oak Hill Hospital, refused to receive intravenous therapy and then grabbed the nurse by the arm and cornered her.

Oak Hill is located at 11375 Cortez Blvd.

The nurse left the room to get away from Henley, who started roaming through the halls of the emergency room "being loud and cursing (and) causing a disturbance," Smith wrote.

By the time deputies arrived, Henley was seated on the edge of a hospital bed, appeared intoxicated and had slurred speech, according to Smith's report.

Henley was told to stay seated, but he kept trying to stand, deputies said.

He cursed at deputies and eventually jumped out of the bed and yelled directly into the faces of Smith and Sgt. Thomas Brooks, according to the sheriff's office.

Brooks tried to restrain Henley, who grabbed the sergeant's shirt and tore off his whistle chain, Smith stated.

Brooks took him to the floor and Henley began flailing his arms and legs, according to the report.

That was when Smith was struck in the face. She stated she suffered redness and swelling on her left cheek.

Henley kept fighting, but eventually was cuffed by Brooks, deputies said.

Once he was medically cleared from the hospital, he was transported to the Hernando County Jail.

His bond was set at $7,500.